Dog Health Tip for Holidays

As families all around the country start pulling out their favorite holiday recipes, and shopping lists, and decorations, it's easy to overlook one hairy detail: the family pets. Between vacationing out-of-town and readying the house for a veritable invasion of friends and family members, it is really no surprise that pets feel left out, but more than that, the general upheaval of the holidays can be a dangerous time for cats and dogs.

Nationally recognized veterinarian Dr. Bernadine Cruz, DVM, and one of the resident veterinarian advisors on MyPetCareTV.com, encourages pet owners everywhere to add "pet safety" to their holiday list and check it twice.

Year-round every room in a house can pose a potential threat to your dog health when human foods, cleaning products, insecticides and rodenticides, and medicines meant for people are left out where pets can get into them. During the holidays inattention to things left unattended can double. Everyone is busy, caught up in the celebration of good food and good company: house guests may unwittingly allow the dog into a room he is usually forbidden to go, or feed the dog a "treat" to which he is allergic. The holidays bring out so many more potential hazards to pets than we may think. Dogs may ingest tinsel, ribbons, and string, harming their digestion and intestinal tract. Especially harmful is fertilizer used in the water of Christmas tree stands which can cause vomiting and diarrhea.

To pass the holidays in celebration, companionship, and good health, Dr. Bernadine Cruz offer these tips to add to every dog owner's list:

* Remind houseguests not to feed your dogs human food, especially fatty foods and candy.
* Restrict dogs to "safe areas" or outdoors during dinner parties when you are too occupied to watch them.
* If you have not already, install child safety locks on cabinets that contain cleaning supplies, paints, and medicines. Even hand soap and toothpaste can harm your dog health.
* Try to give your dog some focused attention each day to keep her or him calm, relaxed, and less likely to misbehave.
* Be sure dogs wear identification tags at all times. That includes indoor pets, because with the hustle and bustle of having visitors, pets can wander outside without their owners being aware of their escape.
* To protect curious pets, be sure to keep candles safely out of the reach of paws, whiskers, and tails.
* Pets, especially dogs, tend to eat first and think later. A dangling, shinny tree ornament or holiday table decorations may be more than your pet can ignore. A nibble of a plant can lead to an upset stomach or worse. Decorations can lead to an obstruction in the digestive tract and require a visit to the veterinary emergency room.

Small Dogs - Information of small dog breeds

Everything you wanted to know about small dogs. Here you will find helpful and accurate information about the physical and behavioral characteristics of each of the small dog breeds - to help you choose a little dog that's right for you!

Learn about the many small dog breeds and find a small dog with a personality, and appearance, that suits you. From cute to tough breeds, toy dog or terrier breeds - there are many different small dog breeds for you to choose from. Small dogs make ideal pets for apartment dwellers and those with smaller living spaces.

Small dogs are also a lot easier and cheaper to look after and care for. There is less shedding, less mess, and the cost of caring for them is less. Don't let there small size fool you, however. Some of these small dog breeds are as tough as nails and will often, unwisely, attempt to take on a dog five times their size.

Small dogs are adorable, compact animals, and there are many different small dog varieties to select from. The toy dog group is made up of some of the smallest dogs around. Many dog breeds are exclusive to the toy group, such as the Shih Tzu or the Chihuahua. However, others, such as the poodle for example, come in two other sizes: standard and miniature, and the toy breed is the smallest of these sizes.

Most small dog breeds have bags of character, energy and endless love to give, and make for very good household pets. It is advisable to do some careful research, however, if you have small children or other pets, as not all small dog breeds get along with youngsters or other animals, although the majority will be fine with proper socialization. Many small dogs make ideal companions, and are well suited to apartment living because of their size. Many are also well suited as companions for the disabled or elderly as not all toy dogs require a large amount of exercise.

Some of the small dog breeds excel as watchdogs and will raise the alarm when something unusual occurs. Of the small dog breeds in the Toy group, the ones that excel as watchdogs include the: Yorkshire Terrier, Chihuahua, Toy Poodle, and Shih Tzu. These particular breeds are all extra alert, they easily become excited, and will bark if they notice unusual behavior - such as an intruder entering your property.

Trainability in toy dogs can vary depending on the breed. Although some breeds, such as the toy poodle or the Toy Fox Terrier, are easy to train in most cases, others can have a really stubborn streak and can be headstrong, which often makes them more difficult to train. It is important for the owner of any small dog breed to exercise patience and understanding during the training process.

As with all dogs breeds, the small dog breeds are prone to a variety of health problems, which can vary by breed. Some are generally healthy, whereas others are prone to a variety of problems. However, by selecting a reputable breeder, and with care, attention, and a healthy and balanced diet, many of these issues and problems can be avoided. It is important to remember that the size and fragility of some toy dogs can put them at a heightened risk of injury or bone breakages, and potential owners should bear this in mind if they have small children that could inadvertently injure the dog.

With many different small dog breeds to select from, it should not be difficult to find the perfect pet to fit in with your lifestyle, living environment, and circumstances. Each of the small dog breeds is unique and individual in character, personality traits, and needs, and by learning more about each type of toy dog you can make a more informed decision with regards to which toy dog will be best suited to you and your family.

In general, small dogs are delightful characters, and can be lively, playful, entertaining, and very loyal. Most will be delighted to receive fuss and attention, and have plenty in the way of love and affection to give to their owners and families. A small dog can make an excellent pet, and in many cases an effective watch dog. Many people enjoy showing their small dogs at various dog shows, although many people simply want to enjoy the lively energy, unique character, and affection that these animals can give as pets.

So, if you are planning to take on a small dog then a little research into the different breeds available can go a long way in ensuring that you get the breed that is best suited to you. Go through the list of small dog breeds (the navigation bar on the left) to learn more about the appearance, temperament, likes and dislikes, trainability, dietary requirements, grooming requirements, exercise requirements, and life expectancy of the different breeds to aid you in finding the perfect pet amongst these little dogs.

Send your Dog to Dog Obedience Training

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.

Basic Dog Obedience Training

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.

Getting Started With Dog Obedience Events

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.

Dog Training Tips

Be Positive -- It is necessary to use positive reinforcement when you train your dog or puppy by offering some dog treats and a lot of praise if he performs something correctly. During the initial training sessions you can offer both verbal praise as well as treats. Remember, this is fun!

Firm and Friendly -- When you give commands such as heel and come, you want to use a happy, friendly voice. On the other hand, you will want a lower, firmer voice for sit, down, and stay.

Start Young…but not too early - The ideal time to start training begins at six to eight weeks, maybe even earlier depending on the puppy. But remember, it’s never too late to teach a dog a new trick.

Don’t Rub His Nose in It - Though it may be tempting to rub your dog’s nose in his accident or swat him with a rolled up newspaper. Punishing your dog is not really a desired form of dog training. The only thing this will do in the end is teach your dog a serious problem--to become afraid of you. Do you think your dog should come over as you call if he thinks you are simply going to whack him or stick his nose into the carpet?

Be Patient - Patience is key when you work with your dog or puppy. If you feel like you’re at the end of your leash before you’ve even started, don’t attempt to train your dog. Your dog is incredibly smart and will pick up on your emotions. Remember, this is fun!

Keep it Short - Fifteen minutes or so is about the right time for learning simple commands, so focus on a single command a session and end it on a positive note. If your dog or pup has successfully done the command several times in a row remember to lavish him with praise. After the dog training session, spend some time playing. He will associate time with you as positive and anticipate his training.

No Distractions - Try to pick a quiet spot free of distractions when training your dog to do tricks or commands. A secluded back yard or an inside room works best. If there are other pets in the family, put them up so they won’t interfere with training.
And Remember, This is Fun! - Dog training, of course, ought to be a pleasant time for you and Fido. The time can be used to bond closely with your dog and learn each other’s personalities. When you do this, you will not only have a well-trained dog or puppy, but a longtime, loyal companion and friend.


Source: http://www.dogtraininghq.com/tips.html

Learn How To Train Your Dog

Dog training is not necessarily a difficult process but it is a process which requires a great deal of patience as well as the ability to interpret which types of training techniques are most effective for the particular dog you are training. There are a number of different methods which can be used to train a dog. Some of these methods include the positive reward training method, the method of training with praise and respect and even fear training methods. While many trainers will favor one particular method over another for training a dog many will also agree that sometimes it is necessary to train a dog using a combination of these methods. Additionally, it is sometimes necessary to adapt one method to be more effective for training a dog who is not responding well to any of the particular methods. This article will discuss these three training methods and will also provide information on how training methods can be combined effectively.

The positive reward training method is one of the most widely used training methods. This includes clicker training, rewarding a dog with food for displaying a desired behavior and even rewarding a dog with a toy or play for displaying a desired behavior. The general principle behind this method of training is to ask the dog to perform a specific behavior and then reward him with a click, a treat or a toy when the dog complies with the request. This method is very effective because the dog is motivated to complete the desired behavior and receive the reward. However, some dog trainers do not prefer this method because it encourages the dog to obey commands because a reward is being offered as opposed to because it will please the owner.

Consider teaching a dog to sit using the positive reward training method. The trainer may hold a small treat or a ball in his hand as a reward and use the reward to lure the dog into a sitting position while giving the command, “Sit.” Once the dog sits the trainer would immediately praise the dog by saying, “Good sit,” and giving the dog the treat. The trainer may repeat this procedure several times during the first training session, rewarding the dog with the treat or the toy each time the dog responds correctly. The trainer will most likely try to end the first training session on a positive note with the dog responding correctly and being rewarded. Training sessions should be kept relatively short to avoid boredom. After approximately 10-15 minutes the trainer and dog can take a break and play for awhile. The trainer may repeat training sessions with the dog several times throughout the day and for several days in a row until the behavior is fully learned. At this time the dog should be responding to the sit command regularly and will probably still be rewarded with the treat or toy each time he obeys the command. After awhile the trainer can work on phasing out the reward so it is not expected each time the dog follows the command. The trainer may still reward the dog occasionally for offering the desired behavior but no longer needs to lure the dog and offer a treat each time the behavior is performed.

Clicker training is a version of reward training which involves using a handheld device which emits a clicking sound to reward the dog for displaying desired behaviors. The trainer starts out by teaching the dog the sound of the clicker is a good thing. This is often called loading the clicker. The trainer may start out by clicking the clicker and offering the dog a treat immediately after each click. The trainer may do this 15-20 times in the first session, offering a small treat with each click. This will help the dog to understand the clicker is good and will soon realize the sound of the clicker means he has done something right. It may take several sessions of loading the clicker but once the dog understands this it can be simple to replace the sound of the clicker with a treat or a reward when the dog performs a desired behavior.

Training with praise is another way to train a dog. In this method the trainer does not give the dog rewards such as food, a toy or the sound of a clicker when the desired behavior is displayed. Instead the trainer lavishes the dog with praise when the dog responds appropriately. This may involve using a phrase such as, “Good dog,” speaking in a high pitched voice and petting the dog enthusiastically. The dogs understand this behavior to indicate he has done something right to earn praise from the trainer. Many trainers prefer this type of training method because the dog is responding in an attempt to please the owner as opposed to a dog who is obeying because he is seeking a reward for his behavior. While training with praise may be considered to be the ideal method for some trainers it is not exactly the easiest training method. This is why reward training is considerably more popular.

Finally fear training methods should also be considered. This typically involves scaring a dog through shouting, loud noises, throwing objects or other actions which will invoke fear in the dog. This method is not as effective as the other methods and can be more problematic. While there are some trainers who believe in this type of training, many would recommend reward and praise training instead. Fear training may produce the desired result of having a dog perform a desired behavior but the dog will be responding out of fear as opposed to in an effort to please the trainer.

It is sometimes necessary to combine different training methods in training one particular dog. This may include predominantly using positive reward training methods but occasionally incorporating some aspects of fear training for certain behaviors. Consider a dog who is chewing on furniture regularly. The trainer may supply the dog with appropriate chew toys and praise and reward him when he plays with the toys but the dog may still occasionally go back to chewing on the furniture. In this case the trainer may wish to keep an aluminum can filled with pennies nearby and rattle the can each time the dog starts to chew on the furniture. Alternately the trainer may clap his hands loudly or give a verbal command such as, “No,” in a loud stern voice. The dog will be shocked by the loud noise and will likely stop chewing the furniture each time he hears the news. Repeating the action each time the dog attempts to chew the furniture will help the dog to learn not do this.

How to teach a dog tricks

Learn the most effective ways to teach your dog tricks. Teach your dog to jump through hoops, fetch the paper and bark on command.

A well-trained dog is a happy dog with a happy owner. At a minimum you should at least teach your dog to sit and stay on command. And certainly your dog should not use visitors as a scratching post when they enter your home. Each year millions of dogs are put to sleep because of behavior problems. Training your dog not only makes you a happier owner, but it leaves your dog better off as well.

Dogs have almost as many personalities as humans. Often a good indicator of your dog’s personality can be his breeding. For example retrievers tend to be eager to please. Hounds tend to be slower to obedience train as their background lends itself to independence. Working dogs such as the Husky thrive on learning complex tasks and indeed have a need to be kept occupied. Herding groups such as the collie also excel at learning tricks and have a need for companionship. Terriers make great acrobats but may need to be leashed when outdoors. And of course there is the non-sporting group of dogs like the Dalmatian. Their personalities tend to be more diverse and need to be evaluated on an individual basis. It is important in training to have a grasp of your dog’s individual personality. This is how you will figure out the best motivator for your animal whether it is food or affection.

Beyond Sit and Stay

Teaching your dog a few fun tricks will entertain the both of you and perhaps amuse friends as well. Some easy fun tricks include fetching the paper, jumping through a hoop, and speaking. Before trying these tricks do make sure your pooch has down the basics such as sitting, staying, lying down and perhaps shaking ‘hands’ before attempting anything more ambitious. Also decide on what you will try for motivation. You can use good old dog biscuits or simply enthusiastic praise.

Speaking

Teaching your dog to bark on command has several advantages. You can create quite a cacophony when a stranger is at the door and by teaching your dog to speak is also the first step to teaching your dog to be quiet. When you want your dog to bark you’ll need to keep eye contact. When you want the dog to be quiet you usually break that eye contact.

To start out sit or stand the dog and hold a favorite toy or treat just out of reach. Encourage your dog to “speak”. When he does react with a bark, enthusiastically reward him with praise and a treat. If you would like your dog to react to a hand signal then use the signal just before saying, “Speak!” Eventually the dog will react to the hand before you give the voice command. To teach your dog quiet say, “Quiet” or “Shhh” and stamp your foot and avert your eyes. When your dog obeys respond with praise and reward. If your dog ‘speaks’ out of turn or does not obey, ignore him or her. Using punishment is not effective and usually the cold shoulder is enough for the dog (eventually) to get the idea. Have patience and persistence. The dog will learn at his or her own pace.

Jumping

Most dogs love to jump. To learn to jump through a hoop, you should start with a straight and simple jump like a broom balanced over two blocks. Start low and conservative. A good rule of thumb for beginning jumpers is the dog’s height (from paw to shoulder) divided in half minus 1 inch. Also, if you have any concern, do check with your vet to make sure Fido is up to the challenge. Any dog with physical problems should be checked out to avoid injury.

Once your obstacle is in place let your dog check it out, discouraging any chewing on the jump. With the dog on a leash walk a few paces away and saying, “Over.” as you approach jog up to the jump and hop over. If your dog is unenthusiastic or refuses, then try again just walking over the jump. Never punish. Remember this is supposed to be fun. Once your dog has gotten the hang of following you loosen up your leash and encourage him to jump over solo. Don’t forget the verbal command.

If you want to add a hoop to your dog’s obstacle, get a hula-hoop at the local toy store. You may have the dog walk through the hoop while it rests on the floor so that he becomes comfortable with it. Lure him through with food if he seems nervous using the word, “through” as your command this time. To teach him to jump through the hoop, have someone hold the hoop level with the same jump you started with and use “over” and “through” together so that your dog gets the idea what is expected of him. Don’t be surprised if it takes a while for your dog to go through the hoop. Use lots of praise and lots of treats.

Fetch the Paper

If your paper carrier leaves the news at the end of your long driveway, you’ll want to pay attention to this trick.

Fold a section of your paper over and tape it securely to use as practice. Encourage your dog to take an interest in it, rewarding him profusely. When the dog gets excited begin with the command, “Fetch the paper.” Or whatever you want to say. Place the paper in the kind of plastic bag your daily usually comes in and get your dog’s interest again. Once your dog seems to associate the command with having possession of the paper, take him outside and put the paper a few feet away giving him his command. If he seems confused run up to the paper and shake it giving him the command again. Keep encouraging your dog to go for the paper until he seems to understand then gradually increase the distance until you are at your front door and the paper is in its usual delivery spot. If your dog wants to tear up the paper, take it away, tell him no firmly and gently and try again. Reward him enthusiastically each time he delivers.

Not all dogs are good at tricks or easy to train. However, with patience and persistence (and a lot of dog biscuits) most dogs will welcome the opportunity to learn and interact with their favorite person.

Dog Obedience Advice & Tips

DOG OBEDIENCE ADVICE & TIPS

There are a few dog training do's & don'ts!
here are the top 3 dog obedience tips:

1. Your dog or puppy will always want your attention & basically your dog will do anything to get it. So top tip no 1, give your dog attention when he/she does something right & you should ignore any behaviour that is wrong.

2. Be consistent. Always use the same commands for desired actions. If you keep chopping & changing the commands then how is your poor dog supposed to know what you expect him/her to do?

3. Reward or Punish immediately. Any praise or penalty that is dished should be made immediately. If this is done a few minutes later, it will have absolutely no effect on the dog - your dog will have no idea what it is being praised or punished for.

Three basic tips to help you out - however, I would suggest that you invest in a good dog training guide such as SitStayFetch which is the web's no 1 dog training program or source the services of a professional dog trainer in your area.

Dog breed

A dog breed is a group of dogs that have very similar or nearly identical characteristics of appearance or behavior or, usually, both, primarily because they come from a select set of ancestors who had the same characteristics. Dogs have been selectively bred for specific characteristics for thousands of years. Initially the selections would have centered on domestication and useful behavior such as hunting ability. Later, dogs were also selected for attractive and distinctive forms, resulting in a vast variety of types.

Many traditional dog breeds recognized by the main breed registries are said to be "purebred". Only individuals whose parentage consists only of other purebred examples of the breed are regarded as part of that breed. This concept has caused controversy both because of the difficulty of regulation and because of the possible genetic consequences of a limited population (inbreeding). Recent work has been done to genetically classify the various breeds, with some surprising results regarding the estimated age and interrelations of the breeds.

Generally, before a type of dog is recognized as a true breed, it must be shown that mating a pair of that type always produces dogs that have the same characteristics as the parents, usually both in appearance and in behavior. This is known as breeding true. There are many issues concerning what is considered breeding true. For example, Flat-Coated Retrievers must always be black or dark brown; however, yellow coats occur occasionally in some litters. Kennel clubs do not recognize the yellow dogs as legitimate members of the breed; some breeders will kill the puppies rather than risk having the dog grow up, breed, and produce more of the undesired yellow color, perpetuating the undesirable gene; more often, today, such dogs are neutered and placed in homes as pets. As another example, a breeding pair of Belgian Shepherds of the Groenendael variety can produce puppies of the Tervuren (brown) variety; the AKC considers the varieties to be different breeds and, therefore, the brown puppies are invalid and undesirable dogs, whereas the CKC considers them simply to be different color varieties of the same breed.

The Dog Teacher

If a DOG were your Teacher, you would learn the following:



When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.

Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.

Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy.

When it’s in your best interest – practice obedience.

Let others know when they’ve invaded your territory.

Take naps and stretch before rising. Run, romp and play daily.

Avoid biting, when a simple growl will do.

On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.

On hot days, drink lots of water and lay under a shade tree.

When you’re happy, dance around and wiggle your entire body.

No matter how often you’re scolded, don’t buy into the guilt thing and pout – run right back and make friends.

Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.

Eat with gusto and enthusiasm.

Stop when you have had enough.

Be loyal.

Never pretend to be something you’re not.

If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.

When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.

How To Train A Dog At Home

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.

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...

Quick tips

• 1. Behavior Modification


• 2. Chain Associations


• 3. Chew-toys and Other Time-Bombs


• 4. Chew Well Before Swallowing


• 5. Eye Contact is Important


• 6. Good Health is Critical to Successful Training


• 7. The Quick Hands-On


• 8. Hot Weather and Training


• 9. Lifeboat Training


• 10. Is Your Needle Stuck?


• 11. Off-Leash Training


• 12. Random Commands


• 13. Was That Right or Wrong


• 14. Teaching Your Dog To Pull On The Leash


• 15. Training to Your Dog's Focus


• 16. Using Force in Training


• 17. A Non-Slip Slip Collar


• 18. Converting a leash to a slip-lead

Are You At Your Wits End Trying To Train Fido? One Technique Will Help!

Are You At Your Wits End Trying To Train Fido? One Technique Will Help!
by Kristin Hill


The majority of dog training experts would agree that the most humane and effective way to train a dog is using a process known as positive reinforcement training. This is a fancy way of simply saying: use positive reinforcement to reward behavior you wish to see repeated and ignore ones you don't.

This is in direct contrast to some of the once-popular methods for dog training. Some of them are totally unimaginable: physical pain and intimidation or inhumane methods of aversion therapy (think shock collars). Positive reinforcement works with your dog. A dog has a natural instinct to please you--and the method of positive reinforcement knows that lessons tend to "stick" more and mean more when she's able to figure out what you want on her own instead of you forcing the desired action on her. This way the dog is given time and opportunity to use her own brain.

Here are some ways that you can facilitate the training process:

-Use meaningful rewards. Dogs can get bored rather quickly with a pay on the head. Most dogs don't even like to be patted on the head. Watch your dog's reaction when a hand moves toward their head. They actually shy away from it! To keep the quality of learning high, use tempting rewards. Food treats and affection is what dogs respond to. -Use right timing. When your dog obeys a command, you must specify the behavior that you are going to reward, so that when she receives the treat, she'll know exactly what it is for. -Be consistent with training commands. When teaching a command, decide ahead the verbal cue and stick to it. Dogs learn through repetition. How to reward your dog meaningfully:

Every dog has a favorite treat and a way to show affection. You already know how much she enjoys being played with and touched. They have a distinct level of energy. Stroke your dog either on the chest between the forelegs or at the lower back near the tail.

How to correct your dog meaningfully:

The best thing about positive reinforcement training is that you don't do anything harsh. All you do is ignore the behavior you don't want repeated. If you don't show attention, it can make any dog miserable--your powerful correctional tool. Hopefully this article sheds some light on dog training. It is a complex topic, and there's a lot more to learn. There's a wealth of information and it can be a very educational experience for your dog and her human.

Owning a dog is a serious responsibility, one that should not be taken lightly. But what exactly does being a responsible dog owner mean? Well, when broken down, it is easy, but it does involve a few different elements.

First of all, you’ve got to make sure that your dog does not become a nuisance to others. Your dog shouldn’t be out roaming the streets, destroying property, chasing animals or children, leaving excrement in the park, barking incessantly, etc. In sum, it really comes down to proper control of your dog, good dog training, cleaning up after your good friend, and giving him or her the proper attention and exercise that is needed. Here are some golden rules for owning a dog.

There are many reasons people will get a dog, and it is difficult to say the one “right” reason to do so. But, to put it simply dogs are great companions and should be considered part of the family. They serve a lot of different purposes such as an alarm, a hunting companion, an exercise partner, a playmate, a show dog, etc.; but, these should all be added bonuses to the one key trait—a great addition to the family.

You should be committed to properly training and socializing during the critical time early in his life. You might consider a dog obedience training school if you need help. You should become involved in activities that both you and your dog find enjoyable such as agility training, fetch, Frisbee, running, swimming or learning tricks. You should protect him from any harm, instill good doggy manners and teach him what is right from wrong.

Most importantly, you will commit your dog a lifelong companion that you will love and care for, provide good nutrition and hygiene, regularly exercise, provide mental stimulation, regular check-ups and vaccinations and lots of love and attention.


Source: http://www.dogtraininghq.com/resources/ownership.html