Dog Obedience Training to solve dog behavior problems

Ending Destructive Chewing

2010-11-18T13:00:00.001-08:00

Dogs love to chew. Puppies chew to investigate their environment and to relieve the discomfort of teething. Adult dogs chew because it feels good, it helps pass the time when there’s nothing else to do, and sometimes because a tooth hurts or some nutrient is missing from the diet. Left to their own devices, dogs will often chew on the first object they come across, or an object that smells like the owner. Sometimes a food smell attracts them. Whatever the reason, chewing problems are easier to prevent than correct, and are best corrected using positive methods.

Punishment
Punishing a dog for inappropriate chewing is seldom successful in correcting the problem. To be effective as a training tool, punishment must be 100% consistent. If a dog is punished for chewing in the owner’s presence, he simply learns to chew when the owner is absent. Punishment more than 3 seconds after the crime is not effective; the dog has already forgotten the crime. If you come home to a scene of destruction, very calmly tell your dog to go get a chew toy and praise him for bringing one to you. If you are really angry and must let off steam, go in another room, away from the dog, and beat up a pillow. Beating a dog simply teaches him to fear the person beating him, and possibly people in general.

Prevention
The best way to protect your furnishings and possessions is to start when your puppy is very young, confining it when you cannot supervise play, providing sufficient exercise and proper nutrition, offering appropriate chew toys, and praising the pup lavishly for using them. Crating your pup can be a life-saver, preventing it from chewing electrical cords or ingesting poisons when left unsupervised. Make sure the crate is large enough to allow the pup to stretch out. Provide a comfy bed, and a couple of really good chew toys.

When you are with the pup but unable to supervise closely, confine it with a leash attached to your belt. Make sure the pup won’t chew the leash, and provide one or two good chew toys. Try to catch the pup in the act of chewing the right thing and praise lavishly.

Exercise Body and Mind
Many chewing problems are solved simply by ensuring the dog has sufficient exercise. A 30-minute walk in the morning before the dog is left for the day will help relax and even tire the dog enough to reduce the desire to chew. Incorporating some training exercises into the walk, such as having the dog sit or down at several points on the walk, and doing a come-fore exercise 3 or 4 times will also help relax the dog. If a walk is impossible, 15 or 20 minutes of tossing a ball in the backyard or down a flight of carpeted stairs for the dog to retrieve will do the trick. The dog should also have some exercise in the evening, to help it relax for bedtime.

Training
Take the time to teach your dog to chew on chew toys. Always reinforce your dog with lots of praise when you “catch him in the act” of chewing on his own toys. Play games such as toss and fetch with a toy to increase his interest. If the problem chewing occurs when you leave the house and is focused on belongings that smell like you, try to leave your scent on his own toys. Carry a new chew toy around in your pocket for a day and handle it, or just rub your hands over one of his toys. Once he has the hang of chewing on his toys, teach him to “Go get a chew toy,” praising him when he brings one to you.

Keep chew toys in every room of the house until the dog gets good at finding them on command or on his own. Eventually, you can keep them in a centrally located toy basket, making sure that the dog has unlimited access to them. Periodically you will have to fish them out from under chairs and sofas and return them to the basket.

Once this training is under way, you can lead the dog to a forbidden object, such as drapes or shoes or electrical cords. Move the object around, and just as he is about to sniff or lick or chew the object, say “OFF!” in a firm voice, and then, “Go get your chew toy.” Repeat this several times, and then if you catch him investigating a forbidden object on his own, repeat the “OFF” and “Go get your chew toy.” command. This is what trainers call an instructive reprimand, letting him know by tone of voice and words what is wrong and how he can correct the problem.

Appropriate Chew Toys
Provide your dog with a variety of chew toys, including a Kong toy, nylon bones, sterilized marrow bones, and a soft “Chew Man” type or twisted rope toy. Different dogs prefer different textures, and one dog may prefer several different toys depending on its mood. Avoid home-made toys like worn-out tennis shoes or knotted socks. It takes extra time to teach the dog the difference between the old shoes and your brand-new $100 running shoes, and certain fibers, like the nylon in socks or hose can be very dangerous to a dog when ingested. It is cheaper to spend money on good dog toys than to replace your good clothes. Hollow toys, such as the Kong or marrow bones can be stuffed with peanut butter or cheese to increase desirability. After some trial and error, you will discover what your dog likes best. It’s a good idea to stock up on favorite toys, so that new ones are always available.

Nutrition and Health
If your older dog suddenly develops a chewing problem, have your vet do a thorough exam to rule out illness, such as an abscessed tooth. With all dogs, be sure that the diet is adequate to meet that dog’s nutritional needs. A dog with a fixation on chewing a particular substance (such as wood or paper) may have a pica, a craving for something missing from the diet. Look for a food with as little filler as possible, and avoid foods with additives and byproducts.

Many dogs develop destructive chewing habits when their feeding schedule changes, specifically when meals are decreased from twice a day to once a day. All dogs should be fed at least twice a day (growing puppies three times a day) to prevent such chewing problems, as well as other potentially serious health problems.

Scottee Meade Burke, VA 'Tee Party Bostons
Canine Behavior Consultant
Member, Association of Pet Dog Trainers and Old Dominion Kennel Club

Source : doglogic

Housetraining Tips

2010-11-18T12:59:00.000-08:00

Housetraining is a universal problem with a simple solution. These tips will help you train your puppy or older dog to eliminate outdoors.

Good Health Is Essential
Make sure your puppy or dog is healthy before undertaking housetraining. Intestinal parasites are the most common cause of inappropriate defecation.

Bladder infections are a frequent cause of inappropriate urination. Have a stool sample checked by your veterinarian. If you suspect a bladder problem, have a urine sample checked as well. Symptoms of bladder infection include frequent urination of small amounts, unproductive straining, or licking of private parts.

Feed your puppy a good quality puppy food. Avoid over feeding or making sudden changes in his diet; both can cause diarrhea. Another common problem arises when a dog has been given steroids to treat a bee sting or allergic reaction. Steroids usually increase the dog’s water intake and urine output.

Scheduling
Feed your puppy on a fairly regular schedule, two or three times a day. Allow 30 minutes for each meal, and remove the leftovers after that time. Maintaining a feeding schedule helps predict output.

Schedule your puppy’s trips outdoors. The average puppy needs frequent opportunities to eliminate. Start first thing in the morning with a trip outside as soon as your puppy awakens. Puppies feel the call of nature about every hour when they are awake and playing. They need to go out soon after eating, and after drinking water. By the age of 10 or 12 weeks, the average healthy puppy can sleep through the night. If your puppy has an accident, examine the schedule and make adjustments to prevent future accidents.

Confinement
One of the most valuable tools in housetraining is the dog crate. Intended to be used like a baby’s playpen or crib, the crate keeps the puppy safely confined when no one is available to supervise her. Crating prevents accidents for the normal puppy, because her instinct to keep her nest clean is very strong. Crating also prevents her from destroying your treasured possessions while she is teething, or injuring herself by chewing on or ingesting something harmful.

Your puppy should be crated at night while you are asleep, and any other time you cannot supervise his activities. This includes times when you are on the phone or in the shower, or doing anything that prevents you from paying full attention to your puppy. He should have an opportunity to go outside every time you let him out of his crate.

Training
Every time you take your puppy outside, give her plenty of cues. As you walk out the door with her, say “Let’s go outside.” Take her to her spot, and repeat your cue phrase as she is about to eliminate. (Be sure to use a phrase that does not come up in every day conversation. Avoid cues such as “hurry up” or “be a good dog” in favor of something more specific, such as “do your piddles.”) When she goes, praise her enthusiastically and reward her with a very small food treat, right there on the spot. After several
repetitions of this routine, your puppy will learn to eliminate on cue (very useful in bad weather or strange places) and learn that eliminating outside is more fruitful than eliminating inside. After a week of this, continue to praise the puppy every time she goes outside, but reward with food on a more random basis. In a couple of weeks, you won’t need the food reward at all.

Accidents
If you find an accident, clean it up, and consider adjusting your puppy’s schedule to prevent another accident. Punishing your puppy only teaches him to be wary of you. If you catch him in the act and punish or correct him, he will learn to eliminate when you aren’t looking, which will defeat your training program. If you should see your puppy circling as if he has to go, gently remind him to “go outside” and help him get to his spot where he can earn praise and a reward.

Accidents happen most frequently in the morning or evening when the puppy is out playing with the family. It is easy to become so involved in an activity that you forget that the puppy hasn’t been outside in an hour. If this is the case, find a way to remind yourself, such as setting a kitchen timer or alarm clock.

Patience
Unrealistic expectations are a frequent cause of problems in housetraining. On average, the bladder/brain connection is not fully formed until the puppy is about 8 months old. If a young puppy does go to the door and “ask to go out,” his need is immediate, he must go out right away. Some dogs never learn to ask to go out, while others learn quickly to go to the door and sit or bark or ring a bell. Some dogs learn to use a dog door easily and go out whenever they feel the urge. The best way to ensure success is to stick to a schedule long enough for the puppy’s body to adapt to it and get in the habit of eliminating at particular times.

Neuter or Spay
If you are not planning to enter your dog in conformation competition, neutering or spaying helps ensure successful housetraining. Neutered males still lift their legs, but are less inclined to mark their territory (including the priceless antique chair legs and the floor-length drapes). They are also less prone to certain cancers and prostate problems that can lead to accidents in older dogs. Unspayed females ovulate twice a year, on average. For several weeks before and during the heat cycle they are more prone to mark territory. They are also more vulnerable to bladder problems that can lead to accidents.

Paper Training Is Not Housetraining
Teaching your puppy to eliminate indoors on newspaper does not lead to success in housetraining. Dogs are place oriented, and once taught to go in a particular place on a particular surface will continue to do so. Careless newspaper readers are liable to reach for a section they left on the floor only to find it has been used by the family dog.

If you must confine your puppy for more than six or eight hours at a time, or if you live in a high-rise apartment with a small dog, consider using a “litter box” for your dog. A plastic under-the-bed storage container, lid removed, filled with bark mulch will serve this purpose very well. The mulch absorbs urine odors, and smells and feels like “outside.” You can confine your puppy in a small room, such as a bathroom, with a baby gate, giving him enough room for a comfy bed, his water dish, and his mulch box.
This approach works well for young puppies and very elderly dogs with health problems, and is less likely to interfere with your efforts to train your dog to eliminate outside.

Scottee Meade Burke, VA 'Tee Party Bostons
Canine Behavior Consultant
Member, Association of Pet Dog Trainers and Old Dominion Kennel Club

Source : doglogic

Puppy Dog Training For Obedience How To Train Your Dog Puppy Properly

2010-11-18T12:57:00.000-08:00

Puppy dog training for obedience is a topic close to the heart of dog lovers. Now, getting a new puppy in the house can be as joyous as having a new baby at home. It brings much excitement to everyone especially the kids. But you need to make sure that buying the puppy is not a decision made in haste or at the spur of the moment. Dogs are living creatures and not just gifts that need no maintenance. Though a little puppy can bring so much laughter and happiness, they do require a great deal of training and when that happens, it is not a fun thing to do. Expect work if you want to train puppy dog well.

Dogs are like human beings. They too have temperament as well. Surprised? A puppy's temperament depends on their birth place and his/her breed. So pay a bit of attention here about different breeds and their personalities in order to know how to train your dog puppy correctly. Rottweilers, bull dogs, boxers and German shepherds are guard dogs and they are born with natural instincts to love and protect their human companions. Gun dogs, pointer and Labradors are born and reared as hunting dogs. Because of their background, they are naturally energetic.

Bearded and border collies, on the other hand, being herding dogs are bred and reared on farmland, and are rather active and curious about their surroundings. They are known to love moving around and don't sit still well. You have to be a little careful when you bring them to live in cities as they may be anxious and a bit scared and nervous since they are not used to the modern environment.

Training dog puppy needs time. But do not be unduly worried as it often takes a couple of weeks before it learns dog obedience. What you need is a little bit of patience and the amount of effort you put into it. One piece of good news is you do not have to spend hours to train dog puppies as it only takes a few minutes each day over a few times. That's all it takes.

The very first task to train dog puppy is its obedience in simple commands like come, sit, heel, stay and fetch. These are easy to follow and most puppies are able to learn that quite fast. As they grow older and bigger, you can move on to include more advanced commands like rolling over, pawing and even play dead. One thing good about training dog puppies is they are very open towards learning. They are like blank pieces of paper ready to be written on. So training a puppy dog can be quite a fun experience especially when it starts responding to you.

Like kids, what they learn in their initial growing up months would be engrained in their memories. The puppy dog training for obedience would also shape their behaviors later. All it takes is a simple rule, stick with the few minutes per session routine and keep repeating as a reminder.

Puppy dog training for obedience is so important as untrained puppies can be rather mischievous. Since they are young, during their teething stage, they develop a natural chewing behavior. This can be quite damaging for your furniture as the holes they leave can be numerous in numbers. It is good to therefore start training dog puppies early so that they learn to differentiate what is wrong and what is right behavior.

Dog owners may resort to using dog training devices or products to aid puppy dog training but this is really not that essential. A little bit more of practicing and repeating the simple commands everyday would go a long way. The whole puppy dog training takes approximately a few months. Yes it may seem tough but the rewards would be great. At the end of the training, your puppy would grow up to be a loving and obedient dog that makes a great companion.

If you are keen to find out the specific commands to execute to properly teach and train your puppy, find out from my dog obedience website where you can learn some quick and effective dog obedience training techniques to train your puppy dog.

Davion is a successful author and dog lover. Learn the special 4 - day dog obedience training system which any dog owner can use to stop dog behavioral problems at Train-A-Dog-In-4Days.Etc-Now.com and make your dog as obedient as a little puppy.

Teach the Retrieve with Clicker

2010-11-18T12:55:00.001-08:00

Here is my method of teaching fetch to a puppy using a clicker.

When my newest Border Collie (BC) was about two months old I rolled a tennis ball and she said, yea, a ball, so what.

I rolled it again and she looked at it -- c/t (click and treat) I had already taught her that the click meant a treat so she came to me for the treat as soon as she heard the click.
After four or five times I rolled it and didn't click when she looked at it. She looked at it, looked at me, and walked towards it -c/t.
Four or five of those and I didn't c/t when she walked towards it.
So she walked up to it I c/t.
Four or five or those and I didn't c/t when she almost touched it ---
so she touched it --- c/t jackpot and rolled ball again.
She ran up to it and touched it with her nose and ran to me for the treat ---
Four or five and no c/t until she moved it with her nose.

I think that you should have it by now --- slowly slowly step by slow step. She finally picked it up and I jackpotted (gave a bunch of treats).And went to bed.

Next night I planned on starting from scratch but as soon as I rolled the ball she ran to it and picked it up and I c/t and she came for the treat. We played with getting her to bring it closer and closer for awhile that evening and she finally did.

The following night, going against everything that I knew, I rolled a dumbbell about three feet from me. She ran to it, picked it up by the bell and brought it back.

For the past ten months we've been working on bringing it back by the bar and sitting front. And waiting for the command. She has never, so far, refused to bring it back, altho it's often to heel or to a crooked front, and, in fact, must be retrained from chasing everybody else's dumbell in Open class.

Last week she chased and brought back somebody else's --- big one, too. I made no fuss - it was my fault for not holding her tightly enough. And I'm not about to punish her for retrieving.

She now retrieves over a jump -- about 80% of the time going over both ways ---no, actually, she always goes over towards the dumbell, but not always back. But we haven't been doing it long. She hasn't been shown at all yet, so I figure we have time.

BTW, I also use a metal and leather article and glove now and then. I can't show her in Canada so I'm not bothering with the wooden articles. Hope this explains it.

I might add that I'm NOT convinced that a dog can be trained using nothing but the clicker, but it does seem to clarify things for them --- my timing is pretty good after all these years --- but I don't think that I could have said "GOOD" fast enough to have done it. The clicker is sharper in sound.

I couldn't believe that in three night she went from "So it's a ball, so what," to "Here's a toy, please throw it for me"! She's as much of a nuisance asking for toys to be thrown as any of my naturally compulsive retrievers.

This was written last year for the Clicker FAQ list. (and is still there even as we speak)
As of this point she has her UKC CDX and is still crazy for the dumbell.

Vivian Bregman and the Border Collies in Northern New Jersey
Member of NADOI & APDT
CIVILIZE YOUR DOG

Source : doglogic

What is choke collar and how to use it properly?

2010-11-18T12:54:00.000-08:00

Question: What is the proper use of the choke collar??

Answer: They are GREAT for locking gates (use a double snap)... :-)

That was my initial flippant answer. I think this is a better one:

I do not use choke chains on dogs. There are many reasons but, if I was to give just one, and this is the one I use with clients, it is because if I gain control over the dog using physical force- I have control over the dog but anyone who is unable or unwilling to use the same force does not have control.

The hypothetical 90 year old lady with the aggressive Rottie coulld never gain physical control over the dog. But, given the right 90 year old lady, and the right Rottie she could gain mental control, *influence* is the word John Rogerson uses.

I see it all the time with private clients. The dog will do what dad tells(!) it to do (he uses physical punishment/corrections when necessary, and it works) BUT the wife has considerably less control and the kids have none. I believe that if dad had used only as much physical and tonal (deep voice) techniques as the youngest and weakest of the family.... the dog would treat all the people in the family the same. The 4 year old would have as much influence as dad.

Teaching the dog that "might makes right" has consequences.

Laura Van Dyne               The Canine Consultant
6283 County Road 100         e-mail: lvandyne@rof.net
Carbondale, Colorado 81623   (970) 963-3745
      Helping Dogs and Their People Learn Together

Source : doglogic

MAKE YOUR DOG CIVILIZED

2010-11-18T12:52:00.001-08:00

For most dog owners the following three things are the most important for the dog to learn:
1. Housebreaking,
2. Coming when called and
3. Walking on a leash without pulling.
Everything else varies from owner to owner.

The following are the most important things to remember when you start out to "Civilize Your Dog":

NEVER tell your dog to do anything that he can evade.
REWARD whatever you want the dog to continue doing while NOT REWARDING (or penalizing) whatever you want the dog to stop doing.

These two statements will help you train the dog for the rest of his life. Remember that rewards are not what YOU consider a reward, but rather, what the DOG considers a reward. For example: if your dog runs out the front door, he is being REWARDED with freedom. When you call him and he comes and you put him back in the house he is being PENALIZED for coming to you by being put back in the house. For training purposes a Reward can be verbal praise, petting, food, a ball or whatever motivates your dog. YOU know your own dog -- you know if he would sell his soul for food or for a tennis ball. Make his Reward whatever turns him on, and the time spent finding out what really turns him on will be well worth the effort.

Please notice that I said "Penalize" and not punish. Punishment makes people think of hitting the dog -- which is rarely necessary. The only reason to hit a dog is for anti-so-cial behavior. "Anti-social" is not only biting. A puppy that growls when you go near his bone is threatening you -- definitely anti-social behavior. If not stopped it will probably become a bite.

A "Penalty" can be anything that the dog does not like. It may be a leash jerk, not moving when he's a on leash so there's no walk, or just ignoring him.

If you think that your dog can't or won't learn, think about the things that he has already learned. If you dog has been with you for a few weeks the chances are that he has learned when food is going to be available -- the sounds of the can opener or the opening of the closet door where his food is kept, or even, if he is fed from the table, to beg at dinner time. He has learned that a leash means a walk, that if the front door is left open a crack he can dash out and run for a few hours, and that when he is left alone he can destroy things in the house because he has never been caught in the act.

One of the most important things for you to learn is that it IS possible to teach the dog what you want him to learn. The dog is always learning. You have to learn how to reward the dog so that it is in his best interests to do what you want him to do.

If your dog is destructive when left alone, it is because he has not been caught in the act of doing wrong. See the chapter on crates.

If your dog dashes out the front door, it is because he has been given the opportunity to escape and then is being rewarded by the freedom to roam the neighborhood. If this is your problem, put a ten foot rope on the dog and let him drag it around the house. (called a house line) Just before you open the door step on the rope, or, for a big dog, leave a loop in the end and loop it over the inside door handle. When the dog dashes out the front door you have a handle with which to jerk him back in. After a few times or a few dozen times (depending on the dog) he will catch on that it is painful to dash out the door and he will stop. Congratulations!! You have just taught your dog a lesson that *may* save his life, and *wil*l save your hours of chasing.

As long as he is dragging this rope around the house, if you have a problem with him jumping on people you can solve that too. All you have to do is to step on the rope where it hits the floor. If he jumps up, the rope tightens, giving him an automatic correction. If he doesn't jump up, nothing happens.

Every dog must have two collars: one should be a buckle collar with his tags on it and the other is the training collar (a chain choke ). NEVER tie a dog up with his training collar and never leave the training collar on the dog when he is alone as it may catch on something.

Every dog should have two names. One for talking TO him and one for talking ABOUT him. If you use his name when you are talking about him you will desensitize him to the use of his name. Every time you say his name make it a happy occasion for him. Use his name when you feed him. If you want to give him a snack, instead of saying "snack" say his name. Every time I say my dog's name she thinks that I am saying "snack" and she comes running. Much better than yelling "snack" or "cookie" whenever I want her to come. Much more dignified!!

Most people have a life, aside from training the dog, so that I'm not going to tell you to train the dog for one hour a day. Also, if you have a very young puppy one hour will be much too much for him. Five or ten minutes at a time, two or three times a day will be far better to get the training into the dog's mind.

While your dog is eating, add food to his dish. That is, while he is eating his dog food, add a small piece of meat or a special "goody" to his food. This will convince the dog that whenever someone goes near his dish it is only to make it better. The old way to get a dog to be less possessive about his food was to remove the dish while he was eating and then replace it. This, unfortunately, sometimes led to dogs eating faster and faster because they were afraid that someone would steal their food. Add this goody to his food every day for about one month, then once or twice a week for about one a month. After that, add a goody about once a month, to keep the dog used to the idea of someone bothering him while he is eating. At the same time, it is very important that the dog NOT be bothered while he is eating. What we have been talking about here is training. If this is done the dog will not object to being bothered now and then, although the fair thing to do is NEVER to bother the dog. The purpose of this training is that, although the owner should see to it that nobody bothers the dog while he is eating, things can happen.

One of the biggest problems is catching a dog thief in the act. That is, a dog who steals food or other stuff off a table or a cabinet when you are not watching. The trick is to catch him. For this you will need several empty soda or beer cans. When the cans are empty, wash and dry them. When they are dry inside, put about ten pennies in the can and seal it with tape. Line the cans up on the edge of a counter about six inches apart. Put a piece of food, or napkins, or whatever it is that he grabs off the table BEHIND the cans. When the booby trap is all set up, leave the room, but stay within earshot. When you hear the can hit the ground, come running in screaming. DO NOT EVER SET THIS UP UNLESS YOU CAN COME RUNNING WHEN YOU HEAR THE CANS FALL. Otherwise the dog will learn to spring the trap and get the bait.

The purpose of obedience training is to teach your dog to be a well-mannered companion, who is responsive to your commands and who looks to you for leadership. The process of training should be enjoyable for you both, and enhance the bond between you as well.

How Dogs Learn

Dogs learn by associating an action with a consequence. If the consequence is pleasurable, the dog will tend to repeat the behavior. If the consequence is unpleasant, he will tend not to repeat the behavior.

In training you show your dog the action you wish, helping him to perform it by luring him with food or a toy, or by collar pressures. When he performs the action, you immediately provide a pleasant consequence, by rewarding him with a special praise word and giving him a small treat. This is called "positive reinforcement," and will cause your dog, after several repetitions, to repeat the action.

If you give your dog a command word at the same time that he performs the behavior, he will learn to associate the behavior with the command.

For example, in order to teach your dog to sit, say the command SIT as you help him to do it. This can be done by luring his head up with food or a toy held in your hand, which will cause his rear to sink into a sit, or by use of collar pressure coupled with the pressure of your hand on his rump. The instant he sits, say his special praise word and give him a tiny treat. After many repetitions of this he will make the association between the command word SIT and the act of sitting. He will learn to obey the command by being positively reinforced by your praise word and a treat.

Using A Special Word to Speed Learning

You can speed up your dog's learning a lot by using a very special praise word reserved for the purpose of telling him that the action he is performing is correct and that he will be reinforced for it. You can also use a "clicker" instead of a special word. (Dolphin and killer whale trainers use a whistle for this purpose. You've probably seen this at dolphin shows or on TV. The whistle tells the dolphin that what he did was correct, and he can get a fish to eat.) We suggest using a single word such as "great" or "yes" or "wow" that is different from general praise words like "good boy."

You dog will first need to learn that this special sound, called a "conditioned reinforcer" means something. Teach this at home by saying the word (or clicking your clicker if you are using one) and immediately giving the dog a tiny, succulent food treat. The order is very important. FIRST you say the word, THEN you give the treat. Your dog shouldn't be doing anything special, just say the word and toss the treat. After several repetitions of this you will see your dog startle and look at you when you say the word. That means that he has learned that it means "a goodie is coming." Now you can use your conditioned reinforcer to clearly tell him he has performed an action correctly and will be reinforced for it, with food, a toy, praise, play, or all three.

In order for this to work, you must find something your dog likes and will work for that you can couple with your conditioned reinforcer. For most dogs, tiny pieces of soft, tasty food work best. We suggest tiny pieces of hot dog, cheese, soft-moist cat food, or lunch meat. Buy a cheap belt pack to carry the food in when you are training and at class. Once your dog has learned commands, you will not need to carry food, and can reinforce with praise, petting and play, but using food initially will help him learn much faster.

Remember that your conditioned reinforcer must be given the instant the dog obeys your command and while he is still performing the behavior, and not several seconds later. You will need to train him daily in order for commands to become part of his long-term memory. He needs to be quiet and controlled while you are teaching him. He can't learn if he is wildly excited or not paying attention to you. Therefore, begin his training in quiet, familiar places, and add distractions later as he becomes proficient in his commands.

As you start this obedience course, it will seem like there is a huge amount of things you need to learn and remember - new words, new ways of handling your dog, and new ways of relating to him. Don't worry about trying to learn it all at once. It will all be repeated over the weeks of the course and you'll find it becomes second nature as you gradually train your dog. Just relax and have fun.

And remember these three things that form the cornerstone of dog training:

PATIENCE PRACTICE PERSEVERANCE

It should take a while to teach the dog all this stuff. I am being vague on purpose!! Don't panic if the dog doesn't seem to be catching on in one week. Training takes time. If you doubt that the dog is making any progress, keep a training diary. This will help you see just how often you are training (once a week won't work) and you will be able to see that you ARE getting somewhere.

Vivian Bregman and the Border Collies in Northern New Jersey
Member of NADOI & APDT
CIVILIZE YOUR DOG

Source : doglogic

Dog's Proper Greeting

2010-11-18T12:50:00.000-08:00

Dogs jump up to greet people because they want to make eye contact and physical contact. They are not interested in looking at your ankles or knees (smile).

Most dogs have been positively reinforced for jumping up, because it is hard not to pet and talk to a little puppy when they run up with their tail wagging, thrilled to see you, and put their little paws on your ankles. Their only sin is getting bigger and putting their paws on higher body parts.

We are dealing with normal greeting behavior by dogs that like and love the people they are greeting. It would be wrong to punish this behavior. It would also be wrong to prevent the dog from greeting visitors.

Here is how to teach your puppy/dog to greet people (including family members).

Teach the puppy/dog to sit using its food as a lure and reward.
Make sure that you practice the sit command in any area you expect the dog to sit to greet people.
Have the dog confined while you invite the visitor in and get them in a comfortable chair.
Lead the dog, who is on a buckle collar with a leash attached, up to the visitor. Make sure you hold the collar or lead to prevent the dog from jumping up.
Give the dog the 'sit' command and hand signal. Have the visitor wait until the dog sits, before gently stroking the dog from head to shoulder while they talk to the dog in a sweet gentle voice for at least one minute. You make sure that the dog does not jump up during this procedure by holding the dog's collar. Your visitor may be leaning over the dog and a broken nose or glasses may result if you don't do a good job!
If the dog does not sit right away, just make sure that nothing happens until the dog sits. The first time you do this, be prepared to wait. As soon as the dog sits and gets the visitors attention as a reward, walk the dog away from the visitor, return and repeat the procedure. The dog is going to be very excited the first time they greet the visitor. The fifth time in a row you walk the dog up to the visitor, the dog is thinking "Gee, it is still Joel." It will be much easier to get the dog to sit with each additional greeting.

If you do this with every family member and every visitor, you will soon have a dog that will sit in front of visitors to get petted and get their attention.
The Above Articles are by Joel Walton, BSc

Walton Family Dog Training http://www.pages.prodigy.com/MD/wfdt/wfdt.html
AB-L owner, Pettable-L owner, APDT-L manager
DC/MD/VA 301-855-0355
(May be reproduced in its entirety for non-commercial purposes only.)

Source : doglogic

stop your dog's Bite Inhibition

2010-11-18T12:48:00.001-08:00

If you watch a litter of puppies playing, you will notice that they spend much of their time biting and grabbing each other with their mouths. This is normal puppy behavior. When you take a puppy from the litter and into your home, the puppy will play bite and mouth you. This is normal behavior, but needs to be modified so you and the puppy will be happy.

The first thing to teach your new puppy is that human flesh is much more sensitive than other puppies and that it really hurts us when they bite. This is called bite inhibition. A puppy has very sharp teeth and a weak jaw. This means that the puppy can cause you to be uncomfortable when mouthing or puppy biting you, but can not cause severe damage. An adult dog has duller teeth and a powerful jaw. This means that an adult dog can cause significant damage when biting.

ANY DOG WILL BITE GIVEN THE RIGHT OR WRONG CIRCUMSTANCES ! If a small child falls on your adult dog and sticks a finger in the dog's eye, you should not be surprised if the dog bites. If you do a good job teaching your puppy bite inhibition, you should get a grab and release without damage. If you don't, you may get a hard bite with significant damage.

It is simple to teach a puppy bite inhibition. Every time the puppy touches you with its teeth, say "OUCH!" in a harsh tone of voice. This will probably not stop the puppy from mouthing, but over time should result in softer and gentler puppy biting.

The commands necessary to teach a puppy NOT to mouth, are easy and fun. Hold a small handful of the puppy's dry food, say "take it" in a sweet tone of voice, and give the puppy one piece of food. Then close the rest of the food in your hand and say "off" in that same sweet tone of voice. When the puppy has not touched your hand for 3 to 5 seconds, say "take it" and give the puppy one piece of food.
We are teaching the puppy that "off" means not to touch. You should do this with the puppy before every meal for at least 5 minutes.

After a couple of weeks of the above training, here is how you are going to handle puppy biting or mouthing:

a. Unexpected mouthing (you don't know the puppy is going to mouth, until you feel the puppy's teeth):

"OUCH!"

b. Expected mouthing (you see the puppy getting ready to mouth you):

You say "OFF" before the puppy can mouth you.

c. The puppy is mouthing you because of a desire to play. You have to answer the question, "Do I have time to play with t,,he puppy now ?" If you do, then do "sit", "down", "stand" or other positive 'lure and reward' training.

If the answer is "No, I don't have time for the puppy, right now," then you need to do a time out (crate, or otherwise confine the puppy, so the puppy can't continue to mouth you and get in trouble.

I believe you will find the above much more humane than yelling at the puppy all of the time.

The above training methods have been modified from information that I learned from Dr. Ian Dunbar in his puppy training seminars and from his excellent video 'Sirius Puppy Training' which is available by calling 510-658-8588. Joel Walton, BSc

Source : doglogic

effective ways to train your puppy

2010-11-18T12:43:00.000-08:00

The arrival of a new puppy is an exciting time for any household. Your cute and cuddly little fluff ball will immediately command center stage from the whole family. Before long though, it becomes very clear that the new arrival means there's lots for you to do, and even more for him/her to learn. Puppy training must top your list of priorities.
Your young puppy is totally reliant and dependent on you to help him habituate and fit into our human, domesticated world. Your guidance and leadership will determine what path his life takes and what type of dog he will become. During puppyhood you play the lead role and are responsible for shaping the character, temperament and behavior habits that your dog will carry throughout his life. Your puppy's future is in your capable hands...

Will your puppy become a well adjusted
and trusted member of society or a social outcast?

How To Train A Puppy - It's Not All Fun And Games!

It shocks some new puppy owners when their puppy acts like, well a puppy. The little critter is a pooping machine who chews, barks, digs, cries and much more! But we still love them anyway - we just need to provide them with some direction and boundaries to follow.
If you're anything like me you probably just want to get your puppy off to the best possible start in life, and also set them up to thrive as adult dogs. Early puppy socialization and puppy training are the keys to your success as a dog owner.
Bringing a young pup into our lives is a big responsibility and commitment to fulfill. Our puppies have a long list of requirements and deadlines that must be met for their well-being and longevity. Tasks like puppy house training, crate training, puppy socialization, leash training and basic obedience need to be addressed right from the very start.

How To Train A Puppy - The Positive Non Violent Way

It's important with all dog training but especially with young puppies to use lots of encouragement, praise and rewards (positive reinforcement) in your training. Start your puppy training sessions as soon as your little puppy arrives at your home - it's never too early. Set your puppy up to succeed, concentrate on developing desirable habits in your puppy and preventing undesirable behavior. It's much a better alternative to put your puppy on the right path from the start, rather than trying to correct established problem behaviors later on. Keep your training sessions short, consistent and always have fun. The key to shaping your puppy's behavior is to start out with very easy commands, continue to build on these successes and apply heaps of repetition. Base your training sessions around trust and mutual respect rather than old school methods based on punishment, avoidance and harsh corrections. In this environment you will find that your puppy loves his training sessions and his confidence will grow with each and every session.
Always remember that you are dealing with a very immature young animal. Be realistic, flexible, patient and always fair during puppy training sessions. Your puppy doesn't just automatically know this stuff! It's all new to him and he is bound to have the odd slip up and mistake along the way. Don't worry about these mistakes, just move on and do your best to prevent them in the future.
Enjoy this fantastic time in your dog's life. His puppyhood is the time where you will lay the foundation for your puppy's life. It's also where you will develop, build and strengthen the special bond you will share with your dog for life.

read the full article here ...

Send your Dog to Dog Obedience Training

2007-04-11T17:37:00.000-07:00

If you want your dog to listen to you and your commands there needs to be some form of dog obedience training. This will not only teach your dog what you mean when you tell him to sit, stay, or heel – it will also establish who the boss is in the relationship of dog and dog owner. It is usually recommended that an entire family attend the training sessions as consistency in terminology and handling is the key to successful training.

A dog doesn’t need to be a certain age to attend dog obedience training but it is best to send them when they are still puppies (at least five months old) to teach them properly from the beginning. You have choices of private lessons, group lessons, or you can go it on your own with the back-up of a good reference source. Once you have started to train your dog, don’t stop. It is confusing to the dog and the sooner you finish the sooner you and your dog will know what to expect from one another.

There are approximately 16-20 phrases you will have to teach your dog to understand in dog obedience training. An important one to start with is heel. You are going to be doing a lot of walking with your dog and he or she needs to learn right from the beginning you are taking the dog for a walk not the other way around. “Leave it” and “stay” are two other important ones that should be taught in the beginning. Remember, you are the boss and your dog will follow a strong lead.

Getting Started With Dog Obedience Events

2007-04-11T14:25:00.000-07:00

Entering your dog into one of the many local, state, national or even international obedience events is a great way to show off your dog’s talents. These events are often sponsored by breed associations, dog product companies or even marketing firms and agencies. The great thing about these events is that they are usually not limited to only registered or purebred dogs, but rather anyone can enter. Most classes or groups within the competition are either broken down by breed or breed crosses as well as size. This helps keep the competition fair and equal for all types of dogs entering the events. Children can even enter their pets and often special classes for junior handlers are offered. The cost to enter these events is usually very minimal, especially at local level events.

Basic level

Depending on the country you are competing in the events may be slightly different. Overall the basic level of obedience training includes the dog being able to walk on and off a leash with the handler, coming on command, sitting, changing directions while walking without brushing the handler or not paying attention, as well as being able to stand while the judge does a examination of the dog. The dogs will also be required to do a sit and stay exercise as well as a down and stay exercise for a set period of time.

Open

An open level class becomes more challenging to test the ability of the dog to work with the owner completely off the leash. The dogs will work together as a group for some of the exercises and alone for others. The basic requirements are to heel in a figure eight, retrieve an item and drop it on recall, retrieve an item by going over a jump and dropping it in recall, jumping over a broad jump as well as following the sit and down command.

Each dog will also have to do a lengthy three to five minute sit and down with a stay component with the handler out of the ring and out of the dog’s site.

Utility

This is the most challenging of the classes and adds to the above requirements by adding finding specific items touched by the handler in a pile of things, bringing back a specific item on command, following hand signals with no verbal component and complete both a broad and high jump component.

Each obedience class is judge by each dog having a full score when entering the competition. Each variation or mistake by the dog results in a decrease in the score. For most kennel club sanctioned events all dogs start with 200 points and then work with the deductions. The dog that makes the fewest mistakes is considered the champion for that event.

Obedience training is time consuming but highly rewarding for both the dog and the owner. Many owners train their own dogs for events and if you are interested in this fascinating sport plan to attend a few competitions to get a feel for the event and then get involved.

Basic Dog Obedience Training

2007-04-11T11:01:00.000-07:00

One reason for doing the basic dog obedience training is to build a framework from which the owner and the dog can learn to effectively rehearse with each other. First, you can start the obedience training by establishing a general language for both of you. In return, this will train your dog to understand the exact response manner that you await instead of his maladaptive traits.

Your dog can react exactly to your commands if he learned the basic dog obedience training, in place of neurotically attempting to incline him and becoming more fearful with your dissatisfaction. Your dog will admit the members of your family as the leaders and grew more protected and peaceful in this bond of love and influence. This can be utilized to help complete some of his essential and fundamental needs, such as feeling of fulfillment, exercise, productive social interaction and the protection of knowing what's anticipated. Basic obedience training will provide your dog some helpful task to achieve and can be beneficial in directing again some of the mental potency of an animal that was ideally intended for work.

The two most popular basic obedience training patterns are reward training and leash or collar training. We can almost regard the reward training to be a tender and sympathetic training method while collar and the leash training are of very difficult training styles. They are both primitive styles nevertheless, the leash and collar has been applied more effectively and is considered as the most conventional style. It’s because of the perception that most obedience training has customarily expanded from military dog training. Some motives are revealed why these training styles would prefer the use of food such as, the nature of the dogs to be trained, the kind of mission or the task of the dog, and the background and disposition of the owner or the trainer.

How To Stop Bad Dog Behavior

2007-04-11T08:12:00.000-07:00

Dogs belong to the Canidae family which includes wolves, foxes and cayotes. Since dogs came from ancestors with wild behaviors, it is not surprising for dogs to demonstrate a wild or aggressive behavior. Although dogs are now domesticated, there are still tendencies for dogs to exhibit their natural behavior. Humans take this behavior as bad dog behavior and expecting their dogs to behave and live with them in peace and harmony.

Here are some guidelines you can follow to stop bad dog behavior:

Early separation from the mother. Dogs are pack animals and they don’t like to be alone. When puppies are taken away from their mothers early before behavior development, this will result to behavior problems. It is advisable that puppies stayed with their mother and other puppies for about 8-10 weeks old. He will learn his behavior under the care of the mother dog. If he tries to bite other puppies, for instance, the mother dog is there to growl as a warning that his biting and bad dog behavior is not acceptable. Puppies will learn to modify their behavior if they stay long enough with their mother and by the time you take them home they are already equipped to communicate properly. It will be easier for you to house train your puppy and stop dog bad behaviors.

Reprimand when needed to stop bad dog behavior. If your dog displays bad behavior, do not ignore it. Use punishment or be strict when your dog does something that displeases you, but do not hurt your dog. Just let him know or feel that you don’t agree with his bad dog behavior.

Don’t be afraid to show appreciation or acknowledge your dogs’ good behavior. Through praises and affirmations, dogs learn that they are doing the right thing that makes you happy. Remember that dogs like to please you and if he feels you are happy with his behavior he will keep doing it until it becomes a habit.

Train your dog. Dog obedience is not innate; you must put time and effort to train your dog to stop bad dog behavior. Lack of obedience training will result to bad dog behavior. You cannot communicate properly to your dog if he is not acquainted with the proper dog trainings.

How To Choose A Good Dog Obedience School

2007-04-11T05:10:00.001-07:00

There are so many dog obedience schools and training centres that its often difficult to know what to look for in choosing one.

It is essential to decide what you want to achieve out of attending dog obedience training and it's a good start to ask yourself the following questions:

1. Would you prefer one to one training, or group lessons?

One to one training is significantly more expensive than group lessons, so you should consider the budget that you have set for the training.

2. What is the aim of attending dog obedience training?

Is it for puppy socialisation?

Is it simply general training; walking to heel, sitting etc?

Do you intend to compete in obedience trials?

Are you interested in any specialist disciplines; i.e trick training, Heelwork to Music, agility?

3. What type of atmosphere would you like?

Would you like to join a proper “Dog club”, with all of its associated social activities and competitions? Or are you just looking for somewhere to train your dog once a week?

Once you have a good idea in your mind of what you are looking for, then you’re ready to start contacting relevant dog obedience schools and finding out whether they meet what you’re looking for.

It’s a good idea to visit the dog obedience schools, attend a lesson (without your dog), and talk to the trainers. You should trust your instincts when deciding whether you think you and your dog will fit into the training classes and enjoy working with the trainers.

A serious consideration in your decision should be the methods of training used by the dog obedience schools; you should look for trainers who believe in kind, positive methods of training. Dog trainers who encourage the use of choke chains or any kind of rough handling, should be avoided at all costs.

There are professional associations, regulating some dog obedience schools, so you may prefer to choose a dog obedience class that is regulated by one of these associations. But do remember that there are lots of good obedience schools that may not be registered with the associations.

How To Choose A Good Dog Obedience School

2007-04-11T05:10:00.000-07:00

Dog obedience training

2007-04-11T05:08:00.000-07:00

Which dog owner won't feel proud of his disciplined dog? Reversely, who won't feel ashamed of an unruly dog? It is very important for your dog to be absolutely obedient to commands of his owner. You can't expect your dog to be obedient by birth or nature. You have to take pains to make him understand obey your commands.

Obedience training to your dog can be imparted in many ways - two of the more popular methods are typically carrot and stick methods. First method heavily depends on the stick or punishment approach. Second method deals with the reward system for the dog.

Leash and collar method of dog obedience training has survived for a long time now. It is primitive but still mostly followed. The premises of this training method are based here - leash will be the mode of communication with the dog. Dog must understand the commands, and if not obeyed to, leash should be put to action. Using leash alone is not sufficient - dog must be made aware of the good and bad behavior. Once tracked on the path to bad behavior, dog can be punished with the leash.

Reward system doesn't believe in punishing the dog. It follows psychological approach to deal with dog training. Dog is made to know the good parts of behavior and rewarded for the same. His ugly behavior is neglected in the form of psychological treatment. The trainer or owner walks away from the dog immediately after the show of bad behavior. Dog is an intelligent animal to understand the difference between the bad and good behavior.

Whatever technique is used for dog obedience training, it is important to know that the training must be consistent. Dogs get easily confused due to double standards employed. If you expect your dog never to jump on the bed, never let or invite him on the bed. Ensure that your dog never reaches the bed.

Obedience training starts on the fundamental issues like sitting, standing, walking, listening to your commands & following those, sitting in the car, etc.

The dog owner can easily impart obedience training. You may find alternates to this by getting your dog enrolled with some obedience classes or dog instructor. Evaluate all the training techniques, methods, equipment, infrastructure, experience, etc before taking the final decision on outside help. Remember, the most ideal way will be yourself to be the instructor. Your dog will love it.

Is it normal for my lab to be this mouthy? An article on biting / nipping / puppy mouthing.

2007-03-05T23:48:00.000-08:00

Anyone who has done their research on the Labrador retriever will know that these are dogs that love to have things in their mouths. It’s what they were bred to do and most of them do it very well. However, it is important that we as humans teach our Labs what is appropriate to put their mouths on and what isn’t. This includes humans and their body parts.

Puppies of all breeds need to nip, mouth, and chew. It is part of their normal development. If you have ever had the chance to watch puppies play together, you see that they use their mouths a lot. Puppies explore their world with their mouths. It is how they learn many of their lessons on how to get along in the world. A puppy’s littermates are some of her best teachers for learning what is appropriate puppy mouthing and what is not. Since humans have domesticated the dog and as a result, separate our puppies from the litter at about eight weeks of age, much of this teaching falls on us.

There is a very good reason why most good breeders and rescue organizations would never allow a puppy to leave the litter before it is eight weeks old.

While the puppies are all weaned and physically capable of getting along on their own, they need those extra couple of weeks to learn socialization which is vitally important, especially since we plan on bringing these puppies into our homes and lives. Studies show that single puppy litters and puppies who leave the litter before they are eight weeks old often have problems dealing with other dogs and humans, especially when it comes to using their mouths appropriately

However, if you are reading this article chances are that you already have a dog and are trying to figure out how to get her to stop biting you at every turn. If you are reading this article as part of research for bringing a dog into your home, that is wonderful and there are extra points being counted for you somewhere. I wish that I had been as smart as you are before I brought my “walking mouth” home four years ago! My dog, brought home at the age of seven weeks, had a terrible, horrible puppy mouthing problem until he was almost fifteen months old. This is extreme, even in lab puppies. I think I tried everything under the sun to get this dog to stop using me as a chew toy, which gives me the ability to share my successes and failures with others.

The first thing that everyone is told to do when their puppy bites them too hard is to yipe like a puppy in pain. This is a specific sound, pulled quickly and loudly from the diaphragm. It is sharp and high pitched. (Adults should yipe for children, since children tend to sound more like wounded prey to a puppy than another puppy.) All play stops when you are forced to yipe and can resume when the puppy wishes to engage in correct play, either with you or a chew toy that you offer. At first you would only yipe for the hardest 10% of the bites. The next week you yipe for the hardest 20%, then the hardest 30% and so on and so forth until your puppy only puts her teeth on you in a very soft and playful way.

The above technique works for many dogs, especially dogs that are softer and more sensitive. Many labs do not fit in the “softer and more sensitive” category. I received all sorts of advice for how to teach my puppy, who had the sensitivity of a rock, how to stop mouthing me. I was desperate for advice since he would mouth me in play hard enough to draw blood several times a week.

Many people, from the breeder, to the trainer, to well-meaning people at the dog park, had advice for me and I tried it all. I attempted to catch my puppy’s lip between his tooth and my arm so he’d bite himself instead of me. I shoved my hand down his throat when he bit me and also tried to hold his mouth shut while scolding him. Those techniques were not effective in the least, nor were popping him under the chin, grabbing him by the scruff of the neck and shaking him, or putting him on his back in an alpha roll. In fact, it seemed that the more I tried these things, the harder the puppy would come back at me. Fighting this dog physically was not only ineffective, but it got him more excited. The suggestions I was getting became more and more violent and I simply was not prepared or willing to carry out that kind of “training”.

Finally I read a book called The Dog Whisperer by Paul Owens. In this book he describes what he calls “the magnet game”. You tether the dog to an immovable object and play with her as you normally would. The instant the teeth make contact with you, you stand up and walk out of the puppy’s reach, turning your back on her. Completely ignore her attempts to re-engage you in play (unless she’s doing something unsafe) until she settles down. Once she is settled, resume playing with her. If her teeth come out again, you walk away again. Her good behavior is like a magnet, drawing you into her space. Her bad behavior repels you away from her. Puppy mouthing is a normal part of play and for attention, this game quickly teaches them that biting too hard will not get them what they want. Within a few weeks of doing this with my dog, he stopped mouthing me. It was wonderful. I actually enjoyed playing with my dog for the first time in a year!

There are a few other things that you can do in conjunction with the other methods I’ve recommended. First of all make sure that your puppy always has something appropriate to put in her mouth. (See the article on chew toys for ideas.) Also make sure that the puppy is getting enough exercise. Puppies with extra energy tend to use their mouths more. Another thing to try would be changing the dog’s food. There are dogs who have sensitivities to various chemicals used to process dog foods (my dog is one of them), and the dog foods you can buy in the grocery store contain these chemicals. True premium foods list named meat and whole grains as the first ten or so ingredients. You should easily be able to pronounce and hopefully identify where the rest of the ingredients on the label come from.

Above all, remember patience when working with a puppy that nips, mouths, or bites. This is one of the hardest things to do – I know, I’ve been there. Responding to the dog’s bites with your own aggression, no matter how well-meaning, can serve to make your dog reluctant to play with you (in the pup’s eyes you have become dangerous and unpredictable) and not teach her how to play properly at all. It can also be much more difficult to teach your dog to hunt, play fetch, or retrieve a dumbbell in obedience if she is reluctant to have anything in her mouth. If you cannot deal with your puppy being a puppy with all of her mouthiness, put her in a crate or puppy-safe room for 10-15 minutes or so, not as a punishment, but as a way for both of you to calm down. Try to keep in mind that this is a phase that shall pass, as long as you are willing to be kind, firm, and consistent.

Stopping Barking! How do I stop my dog from demand barking or "talking back"?

2007-03-05T23:46:00.000-08:00

In some ways dogs can act very much like children. The child that whines and pitches a fit in the candy aisle of the grocery store often gets the candy that he wants, just so he’ll stop making a racket and embarrassing his parent. The dog that barks and acts obnoxious when you stop throwing the tennis ball often gets the ball thrown again, just so he’ll stop being such a pest. In both cases, being bad gets the desired result, so it is something that will be tried again and again, usually with great success.

In dogs, this is called demand barking or nuisance barking and it is simply rude, pushy behavior. The dog may bark when he thinks it’s time to eat, if he wants you to throw his toy, if you’re not petting him, if he wants to come in the house, get out of his crate, or any other time when the dog isn’t getting his way. It is not at all acceptable behavior and taking a zero tolerance stand will make it go away.

The key to getting your dog to stop demand barking is to completely ignore him (provided the dog is in a safe situation). No matter what he does, don't give in. Unfortunately all creatures going through what's called an extinction burst. That means that your dog will try just a little harder, doing what always worked in other situations, before giving up. It's like a human with a remote control. You aim it at the TV and nothing happens. Instead of just getting up to change the channel right away, you point the remote more definitely and press the button several more times, each time more determined than before. Finally you give up and try something else to change the channel. The next time you may try the remote again, go through the same routine but remember what happened so it doesn't go on as long. Basically when you ignore your dog, he will start to bark and get more and more obnoxious, but then he'll just give up. The key is that you don't give in before the dog does. At first this will take awhile. You'll have to out-stubborn your dog, which can be a challenge if you're dealing with a lab. Just remember if you give in when he's at his worst, that's the point he'll start at the next time you work with him.

I tend to get very dramatic when I encounter a demand barker. I turn my back on the dog, cross my arms, and turn my head away and up. In dog language this signals that you are unwilling to interact with the dog. I may also say, "I don't play with RUDE dogs!!" This is more for my benefit from the dogs since it makes me feel better. As soon as the dog stops barking, even if it's just to catch a breath, I give him what he wants. You want your dog to learn that barking gets him nothing, but being quiet just might get him what his little heart desires.

If you find your dog is barking when you end play, you can work on teaching your dog "last one" or "all done". Decide when you're done playing and just before the last toss say your command and stick with it. If you told your dog that this was the last one, then do NOT throw the ball again. Completely ignore any attempt from your dog to get you to play again. You'll want to teach this after you've had repeated success at getting your dog to stop barking, since the reward for his silence in that case is to throw the ball again.

How to Stop Your Dog From Chewing The Family Furniture?

2007-03-01T06:08:00.000-08:00

Pet Services Industry Are A Multi-Billion-Dollar Industry. It is little wonder really considering the fact that we live in such a fast paced life that we become displaced and readily embrace the affection of our family pets as solace from the world we have created. The fact that there are millions of families out there who have added a family pet to the status of a member of the family is a great thought until the prized pet becomes a menace. This needn't mean the end of the world.

While pet obedience is often overlooked until something negative occurs there are many great dog obedience programs out there that can bring your favored companion back to becoming a well behaved member of the family that brings joy and companionship to you and your loved ones. It is admittedly not easy to instill obedience in pets because as with most things it is going to require your time and commitment.

There are many reasons why dogs chew your socks, curtains and furniture. First, it is afraid. Second, it is their nature to bite into things with their mouth just the same way we have a need to touch, it is just there sensory curiosity. It is even necessary for your pet to chew on things as it is a way to keep their teeth free of plaque and buildup. Thus, a lesson on edible things must be included in your dog obedience agenda so your favored pet can differentiate what you would like it to chew and what is not acceptable for it to chew.

As an owner, you will need to start dog obedience training to save you from the constant headache and pain of seeing your prized possessions destroyed. You will not end up losing your rugs, shoes, wires and so many things in the house the sooner you realize the value in spending just some of your time and possible a small investment in dog obedience.
Familiarizing a dog to a household is the initial step in a dog obedience regimen. When you get a new dog, try to keep them in a small part of the house first, rather than letting it roam freely around the house. By confining it first to a small area you can acclimatize your dog to a part of the house and slowly increasing this area will give your dog a chance to create familiarity and become comfortable to its new home. It will be able to adapt to a new environment and eventually accept it as its new habitat without being fearful or overwhelmed.

It does not matter whether your dog is small or big to qualify it into this important step in the dog obedience syllabus. It has to be confined in one area as part of the dog obedience program. It will then learn to listen to your commands and feel comfortable with its territory.

Get it a chewing toy to accompany it where ever you have in any confined space. This chewing toy will then become its favorite toy and can help it to lower the stress level in a new place. By giving a chewing toy to the dog, you will be seen as a loving owner. Conducting dog obedience program will be a piece of cake.

Writing a list of chewable things in the house to your dog is not possible in dog obedience. What you can do is play with it for a couple of hours per day. Ropes, toys and balls are good tools in dog obedience. By using these tools, you are actually training it to memorize the things that it can play with.

The next part of the dog obedience program is where the favorite toy plays a vital role. Let us just say you come home and see the dog on your cushion, chewing the cover. Do not yell at it. Instead, hand its favorite toy over. This can distract the dog and it will release anything inside its mouth. Give clear instruction that it is not right to chew on cushion covers. Punishing the dog severely is not part of the dog obedience agenda; something you must bear in mind.

The most important thing in dog obedience training is never to lose your temper. Raising your voice or threatening the dog will not contribute to any success. It will actually drive the dog away from you. You will be seen as a cruel two-legged monster which is hardly productive for either your dog or yourself.

Terence Young - For more dog obedience and training tips and ideas visit: http://www.obediencedoggytraining.com

House training Your Dog : Deciding Which Method to Use and What Works Best

2007-02-28T11:02:00.000-08:00

Before your new puppy arrives to your home, you should decide how you are going to housetrain her/her.

There are several ways to housetrain your puppy. It is important to decide on a method and then stick with it for the duration of your dogs life. Changing methods will confuse your dog and will ultimately cause accidents.

It's worthwhile to learn about several of the potty training methods available so you can choose the best one for you. For example if you live in an apartment you may need to learn about paper training, and if you travel a lot with your pet, litter box training may be useful for you to learn about.

This article is unable to go into all the methods available, so again, a good dog training book or other resource is worth its weight in gold! Recommended training book: http://largedogbreedz.com/housetrain.htm

How to Housetrain to Go Outside

Housetraining is teaching your dog to eliminate outside only she is never allowed to eliminate indoors. From the moment you bring your new puppy or dog home, you want to take her immediately to the spot you want to designate as the elimination area.

Use your command phrase “go outside” or “go potty”. As soon as she eliminates, immediately give her verbal praise and a reward.

Anticipate her future needs to go outside by tracking her cycle as mentioned earlier. Whenever it is time to eliminate, take her outside and once again give the command phrase go outside or go potty.

If your yard does not have a fence, or you live in an apartment, you will want to take your dog out on a leash. Attach the leash to the collar and say “Rover come” in an upbeat tone.

When she begins to walk, praise her. Lead the puppy directly to where you want her to eliminate, and say use your command phrase. Otherwise, he may be confused and think you are taking her out for a walk.

He won't always eliminate on cue. In fact, you could spend several minutes outside waiting for her to eliminate. But until she is fully housetrained, you need to be there with her. Once he finally eliminates, give her immediate praise and a reward.

If you are taking your puppy to eliminate other than your own yard, make sure that you keep her from going on your neighbor's lawn, in public recreational areas, or children's playgrounds.

Always take a plastic bag with you so you can pick up his feces and throw it away immediately into an outdoor trash can.

Female dogs squat to urinate, however, male dogs raise their hind legs and aim at vertical objects, or targets. So, be aware of where your male dog chooses to urinate.

Curbs, phone poles, and fire hydrants are acceptable locations. However, automobiles, bicycles, mailboxes, young trees, fences, plants, and shrubbery are not. If you see your dog striking the pose, gently tug on the leash and keep walking until you find an appropriate object.

Consistency is very important with housetraining. If you are not consistent with when you take her out and where you take her out, it will be hard for your dog to know what is right and what is wrong.

Obedience Training with Your Dog – Great Commands to Remember

2007-02-28T04:05:00.000-08:00

Let's start with the “Come Command”

The “come command” is perhaps one of the other most important commands that you want your dog to know and one of the most difficult for him to learn.

When you need to use the come command it might be when he has ran out of the house or when he is in a dangerous situation.

Therefore, in order for the come command to be effective, you need to stay calm, no matter how frightened you may be for his safety. If you run after him in a panic, he will only run faster and farther away. If you stay calm, your dog will more likely move towards you.

The come command should only be given for a very positive experience and you should praise him lavishly when he responds correctly.

For example, if you say Rover, come and then you give him a bath, he will associate come with a bad experience (if he doesn't like baths.)

Or, if you say Rover, come and point out an accident that he made three hours ago and you scold him, he will associate the come command with a scolding.

Therefore, every time you use the come command there should be a positive reward and lots of praising words waiting for him. He should want to come to you no matter where he is or what he is doing.

The best way for your dog to learn the come command is through practice, practice, and more practice. Start by standing on the other side of a room from your dog. Say Rover, come. As soon as he comes all the way up to you praise him “yes Rover, good boy!” and give him a treat.

Repeat this as often as you can. He will quickly realize that you have a hand full of treats and will sit right by you so try different things. For example, go to another room and say Rover, come. If he comes, praise him and reward him.

You could also try practicing this exercise down a long hallway or from another side of the house. Have another family member help you and you can make a fun game out of it, sort of like hide and seek.

There are many ways that you can practice this command, but the key is to practice it often and always have a positive reward waiting for your dog. It doesn't have to be a treat; it could also be a toy, a walk, a belly rub, etc.

If you are in a situation, for example you are out in your front yard, your dog is loose and he does not respond to your come command, he might not fully understand it yet. In that case, you could try a couple of other options.

First, you could offer him a treat. Rover, do you want a treat? Be sure to say it enthusiastically and will hopefully come running to you in excitement.

Second, you could try to ignore your dog. For example, he may want you to chase him. But if you ignore him instead, he will wonder what it is you have found that is more interesting than him, so he may come up to you.

A loose dog can be a frightening situation, so the more you can practice this exercise, the more your dog will trust that you have a wonderful reward waiting for him!

It would be worthwhile you take some time and help your dog learn this exercise properly.

5 Effective Dog Training Essential that often overlooked!

2007-02-27T02:59:00.000-08:00

This article provide 5 Simple Effective Essentials in Dog Training that often overlooked even by many Dog Training School or Dog Training Professional.

1. Almost all Dogs love to play! Incorporate Play into the Dog Training Session, use your dog's natural excitement is as motivation. This is a really simple yet effective technique and you should really try to include this in your obedience training routine.

If your dog doesn't enjoy it then he/she will not want to do it in the first place and you will most likely just end up wasting both your time and your dog's.

2. The Trainer Needs to Enjoy the Dog Training Session As Well!, If you are not in the mood, do not start the Dog Training Session at all.

3. Just Like Human, Long Dog Training Session will not be effective as it will demotivate them. Keep all Dog Training Session Short 5-10 minutes

4. Dogs do get confused, so keep your command short,clear and consistent,

Example: Not differentiating between "Off" and "Down." "Off" means get Off something. "Down" means lie down. So next time you tell your dog "down" to get them off the couch and they lie down and look at you, its because they were told to lie down there! They are confused, not misbehaving.

5. Dogs also need to be rewarded. Reward them if they did well.

Well, that's the 5 Effective Dog Training Essentials that often overlooked or forgotten by the Dogs Trainer which might happen to you when you are Training your Dogs.

To get more Free tips on how to Stop Your Dog's Behavior Problems I recommend that you visit: http://www.DogTrainingSolution.com

About the Author :

Leo Enoch has been an active contributors to the Internet Marketplace in numerous sector of industries.

He Operates DogTrainingSolution.com providing free tips and proven solution to Dog Training.

Discover How to Stop Dogs from Chewing

2007-02-27T02:58:00.001-08:00

Are you getting annoyed by the destructive chewing behavior of your dog? Do you want your puppy or dog to stop chewing shoes, mats, carpets, clothing, furniture and anything he can reach? Dogs don't have to be angry to do this destructive chewing they do this because this is their natural behavior as dogs. Chewing is part of puppies development and a natural behavior of dogs. To stop dogs from chewing anything around the house, dog owners must be aware of their habits and behavior.

Dogs unnecessary chewing is the result of boredom, loneliness, curiosity, hunger and dental problems. For puppies teething can also be added in the main reasons why they chew. To stop dogs from chewing you must understand why dogs chew.

For dental problems, dogs keep chewing anything to relieve gum pains. You may observe your dog if they have dental problem when they hesitate to eat even if they are hungry. You may also put attention on how they chew their food. If they always chew on one side of the mouth, your dog might have dental problems. Bad breath and tartar accumulation on the teeth and gums are some of the symptoms of dental problem. It's a good thing for dogs to be examined by a veterinarian to evaluate dental problems and stop dogs from chewing the wrong things. For puppies with teething problem, you may give safe chew toys to encourage chewing on toys and stop dogs from chewing anything around the house.

Boredom stimulates dogs to chew and if you know how to give your dog the needed attention, destructive chewing can be avoided. Take your dog for a walk or play ball with him. Give dogs variety of toys to chew and play with to stop dogs from chewing things he is not supposed to chew. You can also give obedience training to learn more techniques to stop dogs chewing problems.

Your dog may have curiosity with the things around your house that's why he chew anything he can. You can chew proof your house and keep chewable things out of reach of your dog. If you will leave dogs alone without any human supervision, give a nice place for the dogs and toys to play and chew to stop dogs from chewing things around the house.

Give your dogs chewable alternatives like chew toys until training to stop destructive chewing becomes effective. When you are correcting your dogs not to chew anything around the house, encourage dogs to chew his toys and give praise for doing the right thing. Appropriate correction of the bad habits and giving praise can stop dogs from chewing the wrong things.

You can stop dogs from chewing the wrong things if you know the right techniques and strategies to manage your dogs' problems. Proper training for your dog is something that dog owners must learn. While chewing is a natural behavior of dogs it can be well managed to stop dogs from chewing anything around the house.

Does your dog needs urgent dog house training? Learn the dog house training techniques you must know with the fastest results, whether you keep your dog indoors or outdoors visit Sit Stay Fetch: Dog Obedience Training to Stop Your Dogs Behavior Problems

For more information on how to stop your dogs behavior problem visit Dog's Obedience Training

About the Author :

Gerry Restrivera writes informative articles on various subjects including Dog's Behavior Problems.

Dog House Training - tips you must know

2007-02-27T02:56:00.000-08:00

Providing effective training for your dog from an early age is very important for a number of reasons. The most effective training method for both you and your dog will depend upon a number of factors, such as which method of training you feel most comfortable with and which method of training your dog is most responsive to.

Basic dog training is available for most all breeds. Performing the correct dog training is something that will better your relationship with your dog. Dog training is definitely not rocket science and is easier than you would expect particularly if you can get help from a good dog training book or guide. Dog training is a must for ALL dogs large or small.

The final major mistake we all make is thinking that the dog training is over. The main advantage of traditional dog training is the high reliability of the trained behaviors. Other advantages are that positive dog training is easy to understand and fun to carry out. The thing needed in training your dog is what most experts define as "positive reinforcement". This is a method of rewarding the dog or puppy when they do something "right" and leads to them wanting to do the right thing all the time.Dog and Puppy House Training Stops Them Piddling And Pooping in the Wrong Places.

These next few tips will help make your life with your dog that much more enjoyable.

1 It is very important to help the dog identify itself with a name. In the critical stage of socialization,the dog would be busy trying to accustom itself to its new home and people and would also seek its place in the house. Giving it a name and making him know it that helps it become a part of the family. Call him with the chosen name as many times as possible, and reward him with something whenever he responds. A bright smile, a hug or just an enthusiastic "yes!" would do. Just make sure your dog feels recognized when it responds to its name.

2 It responds only to name but nothing else?This is one of the mistakes owners commonly do. Though name is an important part of the dog's life, it is equally important to include it in other activities too. It is good that your dog is responding. Take advantage of dog training suggestion responsiveness to teach it to obey basic rules like sit, stand, etc. This can be done by playing innovative games with it. For example, sit and treat yourself a biscuit in front of it and show it do like wise. It may take time but timely rewards would ensure its obedience.

3 Responsiveness of the dog also depends on how effective our communication is with your dog. A dog won't understand human language and it would be a waste of energy if we try to teach it verbal "sit" and "stand". Instead make use of your eye contact whenever you deal with it. Sit with it and give instructions through eye contact. This has proved to be very successful in most cases.

About the Author :

Do you want to know more about dog house training?visit http://www.9dong.net/dogtraining.htm

Dog Training for Obedience - How to Pick the Best Program

2007-02-27T02:54:00.000-08:00

A search of the internet will reveal a plethora of courses, concepts, videos, and programs aimed at obedience training for dogs. Many are cutting edge and some are dated and no longer accepted by experts in the field. How does one go about finding one that is reasonable in its approach and yet effective in teaching your dog?

For most dog owners there are some very basic reasons for wanting to mold the behavior of their pet. A dog without some basic dog obedience training can be like that annoying uncle in the family who has none of the social graces, always loud and obnoxious, makes a mess of the house, always sticking his nose into other peoples business - you know what I mean. You still love him but you just wish he wasn't around so much.

Well, you should want to be around your dog. Isn't that why you brought him into your home, to be your friend and companion? This will happen when you find a reciprocal level of respect and understanding. This in turn grows out of finding the best way to communicate with your dog making sure he clearly understands what the boundaries are and what you expect from him.

Common to all reputable dog obedience methods should be the understanding and acceptance of the following basic concepts, though they may be stated differently:

* It's important to understand that dogs are pack animals and thrive when there is clearly defined leadership and they know what is expected of them. This is important to understanding how the canine mind works.

* It is your job to be the leader - consistently, repetitiously, persistently, and patiently.

* Tied in with patience is the tone of voice you use. Commands should be given firmly with no ambiguity, but also patiently with no yelling. Your dog must not be confused once he understands what you want. There can be no refusal or ignoring of your command.

* Reward and corrective action are also basic concepts in any dog training for obedience course. Reward could be in the form of praise a treat, or a 'click' (clicker training) while corrective action could be in the form of withholding praise, a treat, a scratch, or a firm 'No.'

Dog Training - Basic Obedience

It's always good to start with the basics. Look for a program that starts with these fundamental concepts and commands:

The Come or Come Here (Recall) command is very important for control of your pet. Nobody wants a dog that ignores them nor do you want to have to mount a search party every time he is outside and off his lead.

Stand and Stay, Sit and Stay, and Down and Stay commands are very helpful especially in situations where there are groups of people and activities where your dog needs to be kept away or out from underfoot.

Walking on and off lead, sometimes called 'heeling' is very important training as there is nothing more unpleasant then having an uncontrollable dog pulling and tugging on the leash and lunging at other dogs, animals, and people.

In addition to these basic commands many methods will include turns, fetch and carry, back up, crawl, shake hands, catch, climb ladders etc., and all of these with hand commands as well as verbal commands.

Other behaviors and/or problems that will be dealt with in a well rounded dog training for obedience program are house training, excessive barking, biting and nipping, chewing, digging up the yard, aggression, and jumping up on people and furniture. There may also be some discussion of the best dog obedience training equipment to have available.

This is a snapshot of the things to look for in a reputable dog obedience training program. Of course a good method and system for training are key to the welfare and safety of your pet, but also to your peace of mind and enjoyment of your canine companion.

For additional tips on researching this subject go to Dog Obedience Training

About the Author :

Ira Nelson has years of experience in the dog care and training field. More information, tips, and techniques like the ones in this article are available at http://www.dogtrainingbasicsonline.com

Obedience Training with Your Dog - Great Commands to Remember

2007-02-27T02:45:00.000-08:00

Let's start with the "Come Command"

The "come command" is perhaps one of the other most important commands that you want your dog to know and one of the most difficult for him to learn.

When you need to use the come command it might be when he has ran out of the house or when he is in a dangerous situation.

Therefore, in order for the come command to be effective, you need to stay calm, no matter how frightened you may be for his safety. If you run after him in a panic, he will only run faster and farther away. If you stay calm, your dog will more likely move towards you.

The come command should only be given for a very positive experience and you should praise him lavishly when he responds correctly.

For example, if you say Rover, come and then you give him a bath, he will associate come with a bad experience (if he doesn't like baths.)

Or, if you say Rover, come and point out an accident that he made three hours ago and you scold him, he will associate the come command with a scolding.

Therefore, every time you use the come command there should be a positive reward and lots of praising words waiting for him. He should want to come to you no matter where he is or what he is doing.

The best way for your dog to learn the come command is through practice, practice, and more practice. Start by standing on the other side of a room from your dog. Say Rover, come. As soon as he comes all the way up to you praise him "yes Rover, good boy!" and give him a treat.

Repeat this as often as you can. He will quickly realize that you have a hand full of treats and will sit right by you so try different things. For example, go to another room and say Rover, come. If he comes, praise him and reward him.

You could also try practicing this exercise down a long hallway or from another side of the house. Have another family member help you and you can make a fun game out of it, sort of like hide and seek.

There are many ways that you can practice this command, but the key is to practice it often and always have a positive reward waiting for your dog. It doesn't have to be a treat; it could also be a toy, a walk, a belly rub, etc.

If you are in a situation, for example you are out in your front yard, your dog is loose and he does not respond to your come command, he might not fully understand it yet. In that case, you could try a couple of other options.

First, you could offer him a treat. Rover, do you want a treat? Be sure to say it enthusiastically and will hopefully come running to you in excitement.

Second, you could try to ignore your dog. For example, he may want you to chase him. But if you ignore him instead, he will wonder what it is you have found that is more interesting than him, so he may come up to you.

A loose dog can be a frightening situation, so the more you can practice this exercise, the more your dog will trust that you have a wonderful reward waiting for him!

It would be worthwhile you take some time and help your dog learn this exercise properly.

I also suggest, if you haven't already done so, to invest in a dog training guide. There are plenty of the market and well worth the small cost. I would recommend SitStayFetch @ http://largedogbreedz.com/housetrain.htm for dog obedience and commands.

For a host of articles, forums, and galleries related to large dog breeds, visit us at http://largedogbreedz.com

About the Author :

For more important dog obedience training exercises, tips, and dog training techniques, please visit us a large dog breeds .com

Obedience Training For Your Dog

2007-02-26T03:04:00.000-08:00

When it comes to man's best friend, there is no greater joy than having a dog that you not only love, but that is also well behaved and pleasant tempered. I am a bonafide dog lover. I have had a dog almost my entire life. One of the key components to having a dog is in knowing how to get the best odedience training for your dog.

Does your dog chew furniture, or shoes? Does he/she show signs of separation anxiety by destroying your house when you leave? Does he pee in the house and refuse to be potty trained? The list goes on...

Before you decide to give up or get rid of your dog, please don't. There is hope...

When a dog is properly trained and well behaved, he is not only more pleasant to be around, but you can enjoy the time spent with your dog much more. The reciprocal love between you and your dog is far more enjoyable if he/she behaves himself and listens to and obeys you. Avoiding the pain and displeasure of a dog that doesn't behave well can be easily replaced by the the pleasure and many benefits of owning a great, well-behaved and loving dog.

I currently have a dog named Duke who is fifteen years old. Duke has always been well behaved and mild mannered. He is most definitely a member of our family and a fixture at all of our home events. If you would like to see an example of what odedience training for your dog can accomplish, Duke would be the poster child of a good, well behaved dog.

A dog that has been properly trained will result in much less stress for you and your dog. He will understand the proper things to do under all circumstances. He will not misbehave when you have company or visitors and will be a joy for both you and your guests to have around.

If you have a problem dog or, you are considering getting a dog, I would strongly suggest the following tips on odedience training for your dog:

Tip Number One: Select a dog that already exhibits signs of being well-mannered and loving...How does he respond to you or, even better, to your children?

Tip Number Two: Look for signs of your dog being in good health... A healthy dog can learn better.

Tip Number Three: Get a good resource book or course on obedience training for your dog... The least expensive and often the fastest way to train your dog.

Or, consider taking your dog to obedience school for professional training... Takes much longer and can be quite expensive... The training sessions should not last longer than 15 - 30 minutes or you'll lose your dog's attention.

If you are considering help on obedience training for your dog, I highly recommend Dove Crosswell's excellent program - "Puppy Training and Dog Training Online." Dove is an internationally recognized trainer who has trained dogs for several movie studios and television shows. You can view her program the following link:

Obedience Training For Your Dog

About the Author :

David Chenault is an online Marketer and dog lover. If you would like more information on obedience training for your dog please visit: http://www.usfreeads.com/709701-cls.html

Puppy and Dog Obedience Training

2007-02-26T03:01:00.000-08:00

All dogs are going to have to learn some kind of dog training. They need to learn to be obedient to you.
It's never too early or too late to train a dog. If you have just brought a puppy, then puppy training is great, the younger the better! But whatever the age of your dog, you can teach him to obey your command.
Don't waste your time and gas taking your dog to the obedience school. There are web sites available on the internet that can give you quick and easy steps on how to train your dog. Besides training this should be a play time with your dog. Both you and your best friend should enjoy it to the fullest. While you are getting rid of your dogs bad habits, such as barking, chewing, jumping. When selecting the web site for the training of your dog there are few thing that you need to consider: 1 Find Reliable Sources The internet is full of ebooks. As with any other type of media, some of them are good and some are not so good. The best way to find the right crate training ebooks to use with your canine training is to look in reliable places. 2 How easy is to use the site Make sure that site is easy to use and to navigate through. At the same time make sure that instructions are easy to understand. You can check the user rating and it will give you review from current members. 3 Excellent Customer Service Support Make sure that they offer good support in case you have questions, need help, asking for advise. Depending on what you are looking for, and what you are interested in you may be able to find sites that have e-book and a few additional features and bonuses. This may be enough if you just want to teach your dog basics. On the other hand, if your dog has already developed a few bad habits, I would recommend the site with little more than just basics.

About the Author :

Want to find a good web site for the training of your dog?visit http://www.9dong.net/dogtraining.htm It can help you train your dog.

Dog Training is easier than what you thought

2007-02-25T17:00:00.000-08:00

Don't waste your time and gas taking your dog to the obedience school. There are web sites available on the internet that can give you quick and easy steps on how to train your dog. Besides training this should be a play time with your dog. Both you and your best friend should enjoy it to the fullest. While you are getting rid of your dogs bad habits, such as barking, chewing, jumping and/or occasional nipping your dog is having time of his/her life.

When selecting the web site for the training of your dog there are few thing that you need to consider:

1. How easy is to use the site -- Make sure that site is easy to use and to navigate through. At the same time make sure that instructions are easy to understand. You can check the user rating and it will give you review from current members. 2. Make sure that they offer good support in case you have questions, need help, asking for advise. 3. Check all available features. Sometimes it's easier if you can see the video about certain technique on the top of the instructions. It is much easier to apply techniques if you can see the trainer doing it. Also some sites have forums and chat rooms where you can pick up very helpful tips

Depending on what you are looking for, and what you are interested in you may be able to find sites that have e-book and a few additional features and bonuses. This may be enough if you just want to teach your dog basics. On the other hand, if your dog has already developed a few bad habits, I would recommend the site with little more than just basics. You can log in any time and see the steps and the video instantly on your computer, and as many times as you want.

Besides dog training tips and instructions, most of the sites offer the dog training products. You can see reviews from the people that have been using it. Also you can participate in the forums that will help you decide what works best for you and your dog. This way you don't have to waste your money and time on the products that don't work.

As the owner of two dogs, I would recommend you one of these sites. You can find everything you need to know about the dog training; you can get great advice; and save your dog's life by teaching him/her to stay and sit. Go and have fun with your dog!

Don't waste your time looking for the dog training web sites. We have reviewed a lot of sites to find the best ones for you and your dog. Please visit the web site for the Dog Training site reviews

About the Author :

Ivana Urbanowski is a successful entrepreneur, both in the offline and online arenas. To read more tips and techniques like the ones in this article, please click here: http://urbiva.bezoogle.com/pp/dog-training/

10 Straightforward Dog Training Principles

2007-02-24T11:09:00.000-08:00

Training your dog requires a good deal of persistence to be both an enjoyable and successful for you and your four legged friend. Here are 10 straightforward dog training ideas and tips to help guide you towards doing the job right.

If, after reading through this article you would like further details about more advanced dog training guidance and advice, you can find that information at http://10adsensesecrets.net/adv_dg_trg.html

1. Get your dog's full attention Before you can start the actual physical process of training your dog, you must first ensure that you have his (or her) full and undivided attention. This can best be achieved by simply talking to him and offering him a mini treat at the same time.

2. Utilize the correct dog training materials If your dog s well behaved and not too boisterous, a long breeding leash and a regular fastening collar will be perfectly adequate. If, however, your pet is over-excitable, or particularly boisterous, then it is probably best to use a specialized training collar. To ascertain the correct size, simply measure your dogs' neck circumference and add 2 inches.

3. Keeping your dog safe in your car Before you ever think about letting your dog et anywhere near riding in your family car, you should make sure that he understands and reacts to the 'down!' and 'stay in the correct way. This ensures that he you can control him quickly if your vehicle is on the move, thus minimizing the stress suffered by both you and your dog.

4. Damage Around The House The most likely cause of damage or spoiling inside your house is that your dog needs to answer a call of nature in a hurry! Train him from day one that there is a correct and an incorrect way of him dealing with this problem, and the correct way is most definitely outside!

5. Be Generous With Your Praise Always heap praise upon your dog when he succeeds in mastering a new command.

6. Use Reprimands Properly There is no need to hit your dog and, quite frankly, doing so achieves little or nothing!! Whenever your dog is engaging in bad behaviour, take time to teach him the 'stop!' and/or 'no!' command. Either of these will be extremely effective and quite powerful reprimands once your dog learns them, as can the 'stay!' instruction. Tone of voice is important, of course, and should be measured to suit the severity of the situation.

7. Find Time To Play With Your Dog There is nothing that a dog (particularly a youngster) enjoys more than playing with you, and such an exercise is an excellent way of building a bond between you. Any such understanding that is built in this way is in itself an extremely useful aid to your future dog training and obedience regime. 8. A Little Bit of Training Every Day Try not to rush your efforts to teach your pet. Take it one day and one command at a time and, in particular, never give up on teaching that one command until you are absolutely sure that your dog understands exactly what is required of him. Be patient, take one step at a time, and never try to push your training program along to quickly.

9. Be Patient When Things Are Not Going Well. Even if your dog seems to b learning too slowly, or does not seem to be able to understand what it is that you require, never lose your patience or temper. Keep calm, and move along at a pace that your dog can handle, even if you believe that he should be making must swifter progress.

10. Be Consistent Every single person on the face of planet earth has good days and bad days. Likewise with the family dog! Remember this fact, and don't take your bad days out on your most loyal friend. Also, you must always try to use the same command phrases when training him, so that he will understand that such a phrase can only mean one thing.

Sticking with these ten guidelines should ensure that training your dog is never too stressful or tiring for either of you, and it will always be easier and more effective training your dog if he is happy and contented.

About the Author :

Steve Cowan is an Asia based entrepreneur who runs the leading "Self Help" audiobook site at www.talkalive.com and compiles a blog offering a wide diversity of reviews at www.webbiz99.com

The Best Way to Stop Dogs Behavior Problem

2007-02-22T09:58:00.000-08:00

Dog owners must put attention to dogs behavior problem and understand why dogs behave differently. Dogs behavior problem includes growling, non stop or unnecessary barking, snarling and other threatening behavior like physical attack to people or other dogs. Does your dog display these behavior problems? You have to recognize your dog's behavior problem before it became a serious behavior and aggression problem.

Do you feel you want to give up on your dog and you feel it's hopeless to solve your dog's behavior problem? Understanding dogs behavior and how to handle the situation correctly will solve dogs behavior problem. Dogs behavior problem and aggression maybe a result of fear. Aggression is an automatic defense of dogs when they are afraid either from human or another animal's presence. Age and maturity has something to do with dogs behavior problem too, there are dogs that are friendly as puppies but start to display aggressive behaviors on the 2nd or 3rd year. Pain and injury may also lead to dogs behavior problem. These things and a lot of factors leading to dogs behavior problem must be recognized by dog owners.

Dogs behavior problem is a serious problem that requires immediate action before it could get worst. Seeking professional help is important to evaluate your dog's medical and behavior condition. You can also keep records of the occurrences of your dog's behavior problem. Record how it happened, when and possible triggers to the bad behavior.

Communication with your dog is really important which the first step to solve the behavior problem of your dog. There are many ways to communicate with your dog when your dog is misbehaving. Obedience training is one way to communicate with your dog. It will give you techniques on how to make your dog listen to you and behave properly.

A well behaved dog is a pleasure to be with. Transform your dogs' behavior problem immediately. Dog obedience training will reveal proven strategies how to make your dog understand what you are communicating to him. Transform you dog's behavior problem and get immediate results visit Dog Obedience Training Secrets

About the Author :

To know more about dogs and obedience training visit All About Pets

An Electronic Dog Training Collar - Gets Results

2007-02-21T18:18:00.000-08:00

An Electronic Dog Training Collar - Gets Results

An electronic dog training collar is a great tool to have, when you want to train your dog to listen to all your commands such as hunting, obedience, and behavior commands. For those of you who don't know how these collars work, basically the electronic collars work by passing an electronic stimulus that mechanically vibrates the mobile collar, provided the dog is within a range of about one mile. The electronic dog training collar allows the trainer to decide the intensity of the stimulus and also how frequently he wants the dog to feel it. Most of today's collars allow you to adjust the transmitter to fit your needs and so that you don't injury your dog.

They say a dog is man's best friend and he will love and support you no matter what. Despite all those good qualities, dogs must still be trained to develop their attributes and skills, obedient nature, and of course to make sure they don't pee in the house. Most dogs respond well to training. For such purposes it is very common for non-professional trainers or owners themselves to use an electronic dog training collar to train their pets.

Are These Collars Harmful to the Dogs?

Most will admit electronic dog training collar are effective, there however is a raging debate going on as to whether it is right to use an electronic dog training collar or not. Some people feel that it is cruel and worry that the dog may be feeling a large amount of pain from the shock. The shocks that is produced by these types of training collars basically runs from the collar to the skin of the dog, and can be painful as well as harmful to the dog if you incorrectly set-up the collar.

The facts as far as we can tell support the theory that as long as you use the electronic dog training collar appropriately, they are not harmful to the dog and are really effective in correcting undesirable behavior as well as training your dog. Many studies have proved that the collars are safe and effective when the trainer is knowledgeable and follows the instruction provided with the collars.

How Do You Pick Out an Electronic Dog Training Collar?

There are many options on the market today, really the best way to pick out a collar is based on what you are trying to accomplish with your dog. The best collar for teaching a dog basic obedience and behavior commands may be different then the best collar to teach your dog how to hunt. It is best to read each collars package and find out if that collar is designed to help train the dog how to do what you want to teach the dog to do. You also need to make sure you look at the size of the collar. You may not want to get an extra small collar if you dog's a Golden Retriever. The cost of the various collars range from about $99.00 - $299.00 and up. The price will vary depending on the features of the collar, range of the remote etc.

Is an Electronic Dog Training Collar Right For Me and My Dog?

The best way to answer that question is to ask yourself what are your goals for training your dog. Are you comfortable with giving the dog a small shock? Remember the basic function of the collar is to shock the dog so he will act appropriately. The electronic dog training collar is a great tool as long as you use it appropriately and lovingly. As to the question is it right for you, well that is a question only you and your dog can answer.

About the Author :

For the best, most complete and totally FREE reviews and information available on dog collars and other dog products visit us @ http://www.dogcollarcentral.com

Dog Care - Obedience Training

2007-02-21T03:45:00.001-08:00

Dogs that simply just don't listen can be a handful. We all have encountered them at some point, whether it is our own dog or someone else's dog. The owners yelling at their dog, doing every thing they can just to get the dog to listen. When all we (the dog owners) and the dog needed is obedience training. Obedience training is a way of communication between the owner and the dog. Obedience training doesn't cure all of the dog's bad behaviors but it is a start. They teach the basics sit, stay, come and lay down. Depending on the course you choose. The basics are for safety issues also, you don't want your dog running out every time someone opens the door or jumping all over your guests as they enter your home. Obedience training is a terrific way to start training. After he conquers the basic commands then you can train him to do other things such as tricks, agility whatever you may choose. It is suggested that all dogs should go through obedience training, even if you have the time to put in with your dog to train him yourself. By both using the trainer and the owner it is a fact that it is more effective.

There are a lot of obedience training classes in your area. Some pet shops even offer them. If you would like to have your obedience trained in your home, their are plenty of trainers who will come to your home. It is important to research all of the trainers, whether they are in home or training classes. Some trainers can be very expensive find out if they have referrals, ask your veterinarian or if your friends have used some one. You know the saying you get what you pay for so do your research. Make sure they are professional enough to know how to deal with your dog's behavior and how to train them properly. The training should be fun for the dog, remember it is a learning process. Praising the dog when he listens to a command is up to the trainer he/she may opt to give him a treat or just lots of love.

Consistency and patience is of vital importance. You must follow through with what the dog has learned when the trainer is not there. If you don't follow through your dog may never learn to listen to you.

Obedience training will ensure a happy and healthy relationship between the dog owner and the dog. This is just another example of how important dog care is.

Remember a good dog is a happy and healthy dog.

About the Author :

Michelle Johnson owns http://www.tailwaggingprices.com an online pet supply store. For more articles on dog care visit her blog at http://tailwaggingprices.blogspot.com while your there be sure to leave a comment.

Dogs Obedience Training: Stop Your Dog's Aggressive Behavior

2007-02-20T00:12:00.000-08:00

Dogs obedience training, is it really necessary for dog owners to consider this option? Dogs are naturally adorable and intelligent, a good companion but no matter how lovely they are sometimes dogs behavior is hard to handle and may get out of hand. Disobedience and aggression are the most hard to handle dogs' behavior. Dogs disobedience and aggression may include excessive biting, too much barking, whining, fighting with other dogs and other general disobedience that you can't get your dog listen to you. Unfortunately dogs disobedience can put you in great humiliation; your dog could embarrass you in public and you have that fear that your dog might injure someone or worst any member of your family.

Dogs disobedience and aggression are sometimes caused by owners mismanagement or not knowing the right techniques and strategies to teach your dog. If you don't train your dog it may lead to serious disobedience. Before disobedience starts to become really, really serious you have to decide to act now and help your dog. Dogs obedience training is an option to help your dog. Lack of proper communication or no communication at all with your dog leads to disobedience and unacceptable behavior. Dogs behavior problem can be solved by dogs obedience training. You and your dog need to communicate in a language that you both understand and dogs obedience training can help you to attain the communication you and your dog need. Dogs like humans also need love and attention and they need to learn how to live with humans.

You may think dogs obedience training and learning to control your dogs' bad behavior could be a very hard and challenging job. Learning how to get your dog listen to you, be friendly and sociable to others may be hard but it is possible and can be done. Dogs obedience training will help you teach your dog to behave properly. Dogs are smart, with the correct methods and strategies, bad behavior can be corrected. Dogs can be trained and dog owners must put effort and find the necessary training guide to train dogs to behave well. With the proper dogs obedience training you can establish good relationship with your dog and gain a loyal trusted companion after all dogs are regarded as man's best friend.

Do you want to stop your dog's disobedience, end all your worries and raise a well behaved dog? There are dogs' owners who became happy, satisfied and now enjoying their dogs' good behavior. Find out more about dogs obedience training visit Dogs Obedience Training

About the Author :

Gerry Restrivera writes informative articles on various subjects including Dogs Obedience Training to find out more about dogs visit All About Pets

How To Train Your Puppy To Heal

2007-02-19T16:46:00.000-08:00

What is healing? Heeling is not the same as going for a walk. Heeling is an obedience exercise in which the dog stays close beside you, paying attention only to you and where you are going. As your puppy grows up, heeling will become the safe way for you to walk your dog through crowds and across streets, ignoring all normal or unusual distractions. It is the easiest lesson to begin with because you'll be taking your new puppy outside on leash to eliminate and you can practice three times on each trip - on your way out, after he relieves himself, and coming back inside.

This will not be the heeling exercise as done in obedience class, but more of a lesson in "pre-heeling" because you can begin off-lead anywhere that's safe, indoors or out. And instead of "Heel," use the friendlier "Let's go!"

Begin by getting the pup's attention as he's trotting along next to you, to make him conscious of what he is doing. Some pups will follow if you lean over, quietly clapping your hands in front of their nose; some like to hear cheerful chatter; others just want to go wherever you go. As you move along, you can add an occasional, "Sparky, watch me!" No doubt by now you've noticed that some one-word commands are actually two or three words. Just run them together and your puppy will catch on perfectly.

Hold his attention by walking just quickly enough to make the puppy want to keep up with you. If he's not paying attention, stop and begin again. No correction. It all begins with just one step in the right direction, followed by verbal praise. Following a treat that smells good may get him started, but if a young pup's attention is totally elsewhere, this is hot the right moment for a lesson. A few minutes of playtime, followed by a drink of water, may put him back on track to try again. Or wait until next time. You can practice anywhere, anytime, on or off leash. As you notice him walking next to you, take advantage of the opportunity to get in a speedy, "Let's go! - good dog."

Be realistic in what you expect of a puppy. A few steps on command earn a reward. A few more steps earn a reward. A week later Sparky is heeling nicely so praise and quit practicing immediately! Practice again later. Puppies arrive in the winter, too, when outside lessons are not possible. A long hallway or a basement is perfect for indoor training. No distractions, limited space so your pup cannot go too far wrong, and you're sure to have his attention because you are the most fascinating thing around.

Add some right turns for variety and to be sure he is really paying attention. As you make the turn, bend over and clap your hands to keep him on course. Left turns are harder because you have more to do. Put your left foot in front of the pup to gently guide him into the turn. Careful, or you'll step on the pup and he won't think this game is very much fun! However, if your left foot happens to bump the puppy, or he plows into it, don't apologize. If he thinks it was his mistake, he will learn to pay closer attention. Repeat the "Watch me" signal.

About the Author :

Have you signed up for my FREE Puppy Training course? Visit Free Puppy Training now and start training your puppy tonight!

Collar Training Your Puppy

2007-02-18T19:15:00.000-08:00

Training a puppy or a dog does not mean harshly disciplining him. If you go about it properly, he will think it more fun than any game. Some dogs are more obedient than others, while few fail to recognize the "I mean it" voice. Remain calm, firm, and repeat the words if necessary, time after time until obedience is given.

Work with a puppy alone and not too long. His capacity to concentrate is limited, so stop when you see he has had all he can take. Try to stop on some achievement, which means praise, petting, and perhaps a treat. If each session ends on a positive note, he will gladly welcome the next lesson.

Keep him on a long leash when teaching new lessons. He cannot run off or get away with ignoring your commands. Although you should work with him without other people or dogs around in the initial sessions, as he learns you can gradually train him to obey commands as they would be given in normal surroundings. He must obey not just when you are alone with him, but in all circumstances of ordinary daily life. Learning to behave in all situations is essential.

When he is older, he will enjoy attending the obedience classes. For most pets, however, home training is sufficient. This is particularly so for the fundamental obedience of the commands "Come," "Sit" "Down," and "Stay!"

Some puppies seem to take naturally to the collar and leash, while others have to be patiently accustomed to the restraint and guidance that they provide. Start yours with a narrow collar, giving as little contact around the neck as possible. Be sure it is loose enough for comfort but not so loose that he can back out of it or scratch it over his head.

Repeat the word collar always in a tone of excitement and pleasure. Some pet owners never put a collar on a pup when he is indoors. However, it has the advantage; if put on immediately in the morning and taken off at bedtime, this suggests to the puppy that he is dressed for the day. Sometimes a pup will bring the collar to his owner's bedside to suggest that it is time to get going.

Also, a collar that is on all the time is a convenience to the owner, it is easier to grab and catch a collar, as a puppy dashes by, than soft, slippery skin! A word of warning: if your pup is turned loose in a fenced yard, be sure the collar will not catch on a post or protruding wire.

About the Author :

Have you signed up for your FREE Puppy Training eCourse yet? Visit Free Puppy Training now and start training your puppy today!

Dog Obedience School - The most well behaved dog in the neighborhood

2007-02-16T03:01:00.000-08:00

Educating not only your dog or puppy, but also the owner is important to avoid behavioral problems, starting as early as possible with consistent and fair instruction should help divert behavioral issues. Dog obedience schools classes are based around teaching many of the basics, including puppy agility, introduction of buckle collar, leash and harness, walking at your side without pulling, sit and down positions, short stays, how to pay attention, and also fun ways to teach a puppy to come when called. Dog obedience schools will counsel you, the owner, on how canines learn, housebreaking, nipping and biting, unwanted barking, and other canine etiquette.

When considering a puppy class there are options for private lessons. Deciding what lessons to be involved in should depend upon the way your puppy learns, and also how he interacts with other puppies. Some puppies work better in a private setting, so when planning to train your puppy, be sure to consider the options. Many dog obedience schools will offer different options to fit your individual needs.

Also, there may be advanced lessons for when puppies have completed the first training, for continuing education. Most advanced classes are tailor made for each class, being based on accelerated learning, lessons are built on the abilities of each individual team. Being involved in the training of your puppy, it would be best to look into continuing the puppy's education. When looking into and considering where to train your puppy, be sure to look at this as an option.

Keep in mind that dog obedience school is not only a responsibility for the puppy or dog, but it is for you as well. The progression of your puppy will depend a lot on you, how much you are working with them outside of the class, how consistent you are, and the level of dedication you have. There are varying levels of certification that you and your puppy can work towards, these programs take hard work and determination, but in the long run are beneficial.

Teaching dogs in an environment based on positive reinforcement has been scientifically proven to help accelerate the learning process. Dogs understand and thrive when there is consistency and structure in their lives, which is something that is encouraged here at many schools. Being taught in a mindful, respectful manner while keeping in mind individual needs is one thing that should be encouraged. When it is understood what we are looking for, many dogs are eager to please us, but first it has to be clear what our expectations are. Teachers should promote trusting, respectful relationships between human and canine, and should be eager to answer any questions or concerns at any time. Raising a puppy in a healthy environment and developing a strong relationship with your puppy is important, and is the basis of a lifetime commitment that you are building. Receiving and utilizing a good education for you and your dog in the right environment can help your dog be the happiest dog in the neighborhood.

About the Author :

For more information please visit us at Birmingham Dog Obedience School

Heather Armbruster
Birmingham Dog Obedience School

Why Does My Dog Love Me?

2007-02-15T10:35:00.000-08:00

"A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself." Josh Billings (1818-1885, US Humorist)

This morning I was driving along a busy street, in a fog, sipping strong tea when I saw the geese. I have come to think of geese as very large rats with wings. The outlying Chicagoland area is so infested with these birds that you have to be careful where you step. The best thing I can normally say about them is that it's fun for the dogs to run them off, and I frequently use the cantankerous fowl as distractions. When you can call a six month old pet Lab off a flock of geese, I figure you have a recall.

Now I never said geese were stupid. That has never been my opinion. They seem to know it is more likely they will be harassed by dogs on my property than on my neighbor's. Therefore, they avoid my grass. Or perhaps they just have an aversion to dog urine. Either way, we've reached an understanding.

Frankly, with the vast numbers of them around, I never understood why we weren't eating them. Then I saw the pair of geese along the road.

One was lying dead on the median. The second was crossing two lanes of busy traffic. Cars were whizzing past the live goose, back drafts unbalancing it. But it waddled on, unaware or unconcerned of the hazard. That goose appeared to have one single minded purpose...reach its unmoving mate.

Before I continue, let me emphasize that I am not a scientist, geneticist, nor a zoologist. I am a dog trainer. I am well read, and most of what I believe comes from what I have read combined with what I observe. Can one even be a good dog trainer without keen powers of observation, reading and interpreting what one sees?

Geese, as most people know, mate for life. Their bond is undoubtedly instinctual, a product of natural selection in which strongly bonded pairs must have a greater likelihood of successfully raising young, thereby propagating the species. If the gene succeeds, the gene continues.

Sounds simple doesn't it?

But it got me to thinking about the nature of bonding. And of course, that got me to thinking about dogs, and the nature of their bond to humans. While it has been proven that a duck will "imprint" on and follow a human if it is the first thing it sees after hatching, I think of "imprinting" and "bonding" as two different things.

Imprinting is a simple instinct stamped into the brain that dictates the duckling will follow its mother. She is likely to lead that duckling to sources of food and shelter. This increases the offspring's chances of surviving infancy, reaching sexual maturity, mating, and propagating the species. Again, the gene succeeds, the gene continues.

But what is bonding?

I think of it as something more complex. Something more bound to social order. Instinctual? Probably. Still related to survival? Definitely. But still complex.

Dogs in the wild, since their earliest descendants, understand social order and collaborative hunting. A well ordered pack of wolves can successfully hunt, shelter, raise offspring, and pass on their genes. A pack suffering from social strife will not have clear leadership or collaboration, and will eventually die.

Dogs understand this on a genetic level. It is why a properly socialized dog understands how to communicate with other dogs using their species' unique and understandable body language. It is why we, as dog trainers, are sometimes described as being able to "read" dogs. We're simply recognizing attitude and thoughts, and yes, even emotions, by interpreting body language. And that is precisely what allows us to shape dog behavior by using our own body language to clearly show a dog what we want from them.

But why do dogs CARE about what we want from them? That is the question that has both mystified and thrilled me ever since I got my first dog at the age of 11. Why is a dog willing to be trained? Why do they thrive on it in fact? Why is a dog remotely interested in what we want from them?

A cow doesn't much care. So we eat them. Most horses I have known and ridden will yield to humans, but they seem to me to prefer their own company to mine when given a choice. But because they yield to us, and helped us form our nation, as a culture, we're horrified at the idea of eating them.

Wolves, I am told, are canids whose behavior can be somewhat modified by men. But they will generally return to behaviors for which they are genetically programmed, regardless of what training they have had.

So what is it about dogs? Why do they care about what we want? Why did my first dog remember and perform his utility signals exercise into his dotage, way after deafness, strokes and until shortly before he died at seventeen and a half?

His name was Gus. He was a Sheltie born April 29, 1969. He came to me in a dream several years ago and he spoke to me in words that did not come out of his mouth, but which I heard in my head. These are the exact words of the interchange.

"Where are you?" he asked, intense in his sadness.

"I'll come to you one day," I told him.

"But I have been waiting so long," he said.

"Because it's not my time yet," I told him. "But I will come."

He paused, but only briefly.

"I'll wait for you," he said.

"Find Bobbi and Frannie," I said. "They are Greyhounds They are mine too, and they will know you. They will wait with you."

"I will," he said, and he left me slowly, reluctantly, at my bidding. I woke up crying, as I cry now recounting the experience.

I have always known that dogs care about us on the deepest possible levels but only recently did I put together my own concept of why. I think it was that dream of Gus. I told you he spoke to me in words. The words did not come from his mouth. They came from his mind into mine. But they had a voice. And that voice was my own.

My waiting dog spoke to me in my own voice. We love our dogs. But they adore us on a level beyond love. They are what we ask them to be, becoming part of us if we ask them to. I think Gus came to me that night, or perhaps my unconscious summoned him, because I was finally ready to understand the answer to my long held question.

Dogs care about what we want from them because, when led properly by man, they consider us to be more than their pack mates. We provide more than food, shelter and more than comfort. We provide dogs what the concept of God provides to us, a sense of meaning, comfort, a sense of purpose, a sense that we are not alone.

Dogs do not love us. They worship us. But not from afar. They live with their gods. They worship us from the foot of our beds, they adore us as they look at us, and they long for us even as we touch them.

Trained dogs submit and yield to this worship readily. It satisfies them on a level which humans with our questioning mentalities may not fully comprehend. The faith of a dog, particularly a trained dog, is absolute. He never questions or has a crisis of faith. He doesn't believe. He knows.

Have you ever noticed that after putting a dog through even a basic course of obedience, other behaviors change for which you have not trained? If you do your work artfully, the dog gives up undesirable behaviors without even being commanded.

This occurs because the dog always knew his owner didn't like the behaviors. After all, they grumped and yelled when he did it. He simply didn't care. He felt no particular compulsion to give up a treasured behavior such as jumping on guests.

But when a dog is trained, he learns to look at his humans in a whole new way. He learns that the bond has more meaning that he ever knew before. He learns that he no longer has to make every decision for his life. It's not satisfying to a dog to pull on the leash and be out of control. Yet, if that behavior is all he knows, he'll do it over and over. I now see that behavior as a cry for help, the way the dog shows his profound need for leadership.

But once the dog has learned to yield his decision making to a human, a bond between dog and handler is formed that knows no limits of depth. So why do dogs care about what we want? Why are they willing to do what we ask of them if we can only show them clearly what we want? Why will they yield their willpower to ours?

They do it for the love of man. They do it because they love us more than they love themselves.

Is it genetic? The gene succeeds so the gene continues? Probably. But I think it's more than that. I think the dog has a void that only we humans can fill. Even those of us who succeed the most with dogs don't quite have the same love for dogs that they have for us. We can't. We don't have that gene. But we can understand and honor the dog's need for leadership.

We can bring a dog to a place where his need for us is absolute yet doesn't destabilize the independent nature of his being. Lest you take from my words the idea that I am a tree hugging dog spiritualist, I will tell you flat out that I am not. I am a dog trainer. I both correct and reward my dogs. That's pretty much the way life treats me.

The ultimate reward for us both is a bond during the dog's lifetime that exceeds any other comfort he can ever know. And after the dog's death, he brings a form of comfort that some, like me, have not known before.

Someone is waiting. Someone who loves me more than he loves himself.

About the Author :

Marc Goldberg is a dog trainer specializing in the rehabilitation of difficult dogs and improving relationships. He is Vice President of the International Association of Canine Professionals (IACP) and Editor of SafeHands Journal. The author also educates professional dog trainers in his techniques. Visit him on the web at http://www.chicagodogtrainer.com or http://www.dogtraininginchicago.com.

Leash Training Your Dog

2007-02-14T20:20:00.000-08:00

Teaching your dog obedience is of utmost importance while training your pet. Though reward and reinforcement techniques work very well with dogs, training them with the leash and collar is the most ideal method of training.

This training can start only when the dog is about 8 weeks old, not before. This is the time when your pet recognizes your call to him. At this age, he will be able to go for short walks and can pay more attention to what you are saying.

Before leash training begins, it is important for you to develop a close bond with your pet. The dog must know that he cannot dominate you. One more thing you should pay attention to, is that the leash is only a means to teach a dog to be obedient - it cannot be the essence of training itself.

Dogs love the outdoors, so it is possible that he will go totally berserk and does a constant jig near the door! He must first be trained to obey 'sit' and 'stay' commands before starting off for walks. So you first have to train him to sit patiently till you put the collar on him. It is always better to start with a show collar and not a choker.

It's always good to start early with the dog, as far as training is concerned. Once the dog learns to stay while putting on the collar, you can take him for a short walk in your own backyard, so that he gets a feel of it.

If he gets out of control, you will have to make him stay till he finally cools down a bit, and then start all over again. Let him wander around for some time if he wishes to. Then call out to him. Praise and treat him once he responds to your command.

If your pet should decide to pull you the opposite way while walking, just stay in your spot till he realizes he can get nowhere with this type of behavior.

Training a dog to be on a leash takes a lot of patience and effort, but dogs are fast learners. Once the pet lets you lead the way, he is ready for longer walks, maybe in the park next time. Slowly and steadily, he learns that you are the master and are in control of him, and not the other way round.

Controlling a dominant dog can be tough. The first thing you have to do is to let him know who the boss is. Teach him basic obedience exercises and then proceed to train him as mentioned above. Some dominant dogs are too aggressive and try to have their own way. What you can do is to tie him up somewhere till he learns obedience the hard way! He might sulk and stop obeying your commands initially, but with time and trouble, he will eventually learn to respond to your commands. Training a dominant dog takes a lot of perseverance, but also pays rich dividends, once you have succeeded in your task.

While trying to train the dog on the leash, it is very important to keep in mind that this is merely a corrective measure and can never help develop a good relationship between the dog and its owner. The rapport between the two can only come by giving the pet a lot of love and treating him with respect.

Learn more about leash training your dog at

About the Author :

George Kane writes about subjects such as leash training a dog and top dog training ebooks like sit stay fetch for Dog Training A to Z!

Dog Obedience Training for Beginners

2007-02-14T03:57:00.000-08:00

A significant percentage of the population in today's world has a dog, and so this explains why dog obedience training is truly so important. This type of training will teach your dog to behave, as well to do tricks, such as sit, lie down, roll over and so on; the amount of what they are taught will obviously depend on your preferences, as well as on what you are willing pay and what obedience school you bring them to.

Why it is Beneficial

There are actually many various different reasons as to why this is so beneficial for a dog, and it is actually considered as being one of the best things of all that you can ever do for them. Although it may not solve all behavioral problems, it is nevertheless the true foundation in regards to solving just about any problem, and so regardless of what types of problems your canine friend may have, this is sure to help and if not it will be the most major stepping stone in regards to doing so.

It truly opens up a brand new line and form of communication between you and your pet, and effective communication is one of the most important and truly critical factors of all in this situation. Dogs are very social animals, and so without the proper trainings, they will behave like animals, rather than pets.

Dogs may soil in your house, chew up your furniture and otherwise destroy your belongings, bark excessively, dig holes in the ground outside, fight other dogs, and perhaps even bite you. Especially if you have children in your house or living around you, you are certainly not going to want to have any of this happen, and so this explains then why proper trainings are so important here.

It also does not have to be that expensive, as there are many places that are available that you can go to where you will not end up breaking the bank simply by giving your animal friends lessons to be good. The best thing is to ask around to your family and friends so that you can see if any of them have ever gone through this before and then you will be able to get a firsthand opinion in regards to where you should go and why; just have patience with your pet, and they are sure to come along well and quickly.

About the Author :

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Secrets of Professional Dog Trainers: Top 10 Tips to Successfully Training Your Dog Yourself

2007-02-13T07:15:00.000-08:00

Dog obedience training is one of the best things you can do for your dog and yourself. Obedience training doesn't solve all behavior problems, but it is the foundation for solving just about any problem including soiling your house, destroying your belongings, barking excessively, digging holes in your yard, fighting other dogs and even biting you.

For most dog owners, dog obedience training is a daunting task. However, training your dog is about to get much easier, if you follow my advice below. Here Are My Top 10 Tips for Training Your Dog

1. Dog training should be an enjoyable experience for you and your dog. If you are not in the right mood for training, don't even start.

2. Keep dog obedience training sessions short (5-10 minutes) to maintain your dog's motivation. Dogs will learn much more from regular short sessions than from longer, less frequent ones. Once the dog has learned several useful commands on the continuous reward schedule, the schedule should be changed to one of intermittent rewards.

3. Always end training on a positive note. Ask your dog to respond to a command you know he or she will obey. Then reward your dog for a job well done and issue a finish command such as "free" or "release." Avoid common words such as "okay." Following a training session, both owner and dog should be left with feelings of accomplishment.

4. Keep in mind that your dog's motivation to respond to a command decreases as the complexity of the task increases. If your dog doesn't respond appropriately to a command after several attempts, don't reward him or her. Resume training a few seconds later using a simpler command. Return to the more complex task later.

5. Remember, the odds of success hinge not only on the degree of sophistication of the task, but also your dog's motivation to respond. From a dog's perspective the question is, which is more rewarding: chasing the squirrel or returning to the owner? Understanding this aspect will increase your patience and chances for dog training success.

6. Training should not involve any negative or punishment-based components. There should be no yelling, no hitting, no chain jerking, no hanging, and absolutely no electric shock. Remember that the opposite of reward is not punishment; it is no reward. If you ignore unacceptable responses, your dog will not be rewarded for his or her failed response. Most dogs want to please their owners or, at the very least, to obtain highly valued resources (food, attention and toys).

7. Ensure that your dog's motivation for reward is highest during a training session. If food is the reward, train before a meal, not after. If praise, petting and other aspects of your attention are to be used as a reward, schedule the training session at a time when your dog hungers for your attention (for example, after you have returned home from work).

For complex tasks, such as the off leash down-stay, your dog will be more motivated to comply if he or she has received moderate exercise before the training session. Asking a dog that is bursting with energy to remain in a prolonged reclining position is asking for failure during the early stages of training.

8. Make sure the reward you offer in training is the most powerful one for your dog. Food-motivated dogs work well for food, but the treats used should be you dog's favorite food. If praise is used as a reward, deliver it in high singsong tones, which are most pleasing for the dog. Also, enthusiasm in your voice will be much appreciated. If petting is to be used as a reward, it should be in a way that the dog enjoys, such as stroking the dog's hair on the side of his or her face in the same direction that it grows, or scratching him or her on the chest.

9. After a correct response, reward your dog within ½ second of the command. This will ensure your dog makes the connection between the behavior and the reward.

10. Use short commands such as sit, down, leave it, quiet, out, and off. Say the word once. Do not repeat the command. Dogs will remember a command for about two minutes before the notion is lost. Shorter words are better than longer words and words that end in a hard consonant (C, K, T, X) are better than those that end in a vowel because you can "spit" them out.

A Bonus Dog Training Tip:

The "Holy Grail" of training is to have the dog reliably obeying commands off lead, even when other things are going on around him or her. This level of training can be achieved, but only after a lot of hard work and investment of time. It's something to strive toward.

About the Author :

Dr. Nicholas Dodman has provided thousands of pet owners just like you with valuable insights in keeping their dogs obedient, healthy, and happy. Get your free daily dose of pet crazy stories and access to over 8000 veterinarian approved advice articles guaranteed to help you train your dogs and keep them living longer, stronger lives at: http://www.petplace.com/dogs.aspx

How to train a dog that has behavior problems?

2007-02-11T09:44:00.000-08:00

Do you have a dog that has behavior problems such as excessive biting, barking, and whining? Do you have a dog that is overly aggressive? Do you want to know how to fix any dog behavior problem?
It's never too early or too late to train a dog. If you have just brought a puppy, then puppy training is great, the younger the better! But whatever the age of your dog, you can teach him to obey your command.
As dog owners we have a responsibility to control our dogs. They must be well behaved around people and other dogs. They should not be loud, excessive barking must be controlled. An uncontrollable dog is only going to lead to problems.
Dog behavior problems can be solved with obedience training. Obedience training is training your dog to perform certain acceptable behaviors while teaching them to stop unacceptable behaviors. Dogs are generally intelligent creatures and learn very quickly. The most important points to remember before embarking on the process of training your dog are that you must provide patience and consistency.
Learning to communicate with your dog in a way it understands is probably the hardest part. Start with one-word or two-word commands. Dogs will quickly pick up on the sound of the command and associate it with the desired behavior. Most trainers recommend using treats and praise when the dog demonstrates the desired behavior.
Reward your dog when he does something right and a short, sharp reprimand with your voice when they do wrong. You should never hit or spank your dog; this can only lead to more problems
Lastly, always keep the training fun for both you and your dog.

About the Author :

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