Puppy Training 101

Bringing a new puppy into your home can be an exciting experience, but also will inevitably provide many challenges for the new dog owner. Puppies are as law abiding as they are old. Puppies tend to compensate for their anything goes behavior with oodles of cuteness that results in the owners pandering to the pups, and thus not training them properly. Many will think they have the will power to withstand the cuddly cute manipulations that puppies are famous for, however few will succeed. The key to training puppies is to lay out several ground rules for you, and abide by them daily. This is why professionals often refer to puppy training, as in all truth being people training instead.

Designate off limits zones in your home before, or during the beginning of dog ownership. Puppies tend to operate on a free style basis that allows them to go, sleep, and urinate wherever they please. Remember that dogs typically mark their territory through urination. So the more you make your house feel like the puppies new home, the more the pup’s going to want to a whiz in it. So the first step to avoid such a problem is creating off limit zones. Typically the easiest way to make this happen is close the doors to any and all rooms that are unavailable for the puppy to be in. Once you have created off limit zones for the dog it will limit your pee patrol to a few rooms, and once you get the dog trained to go outside you’ll be in really good shape.

Choose and portion food wisely for your new canine friend. Dogs like to eat as much as they can, as often as they can for no particular reason. Be sure to make eating a daily routine in which you serve the dog the food, thus the dog understands who is in control of the food. Food can be your biggest weapon in training a dog.

Fence in your yard if it’s not fenced yet, this will be the easiest way to train your dog. With a securely fenced in yard dogs will have a controlled environment to play, go to the bathroom, and sit when they are not wanted inside. Without a fenced in yard dogs will be forced to abide by your walking rules, which can vary in time and duration, and often don’t occur enough. Trust me, it’s much easier to let a dog outside in the fenced in yard than to walk them 5 times a day.

Take pride in your duty as a dog trainer. Don’t be afraid to really get involved in training your dog, and becoming an interested participant in your dog’s growth. As with most anything in life, the more you put into it, the more you will get out of it. This is key with training puppies, the dog will be very responsive to your efforts if you take pride in training it. As long as the dog sees you working as hard as it is on abiding by rules, and working towards a routine the easier it will be to train the puppy in the long run.

Be sure to purchase a book on the breed of the puppy you have purchased. Breed books are typically right on target when discussing dog habits, issues, and personalities specific to the puppies particular breed. Owning a dog book will give you insight on how best to train your new puppy.

Does Your Barking Dog Drive You Mad?

For some people it is an offence to have a barking dog around them, they think that dogs should be seen and not heard. This is slightly unfair given that the bark is a dog's voice and like yourself it uses it to communicate.

In some instances of course you want your dog to bark loudly such as when a suspected burglar approaches or if you fall into trouble of some sort and need urgent assistance. In most cases your dog is just trying to talk to you, perhaps he is just happy about something, dog obedience training will help you to find this out for sure.

The problem is that the language barrier between barking dogs and humans is well nigh impenetrable. Therefore, you are forced to resort to the facts of the situation in which your dog is barking and try to understand from its body language just what it is trying to say.

Apart from that many people ask just why do dogs bark? Your dog can bark for many reasons and not all are good ones.

Naturally they will bark when they are happy about something such as greeting you on your return or perhaps they are happy about running around in the park.

Some dogs having barking bred into to them such as toy dogs or sporting breeds where they are trained to bark in order to notify their owners of the presence of a particular quarry being hunted. Other dogs like the guarding breeds are trained only to bark when a threat is perceived.

Other than the above common reasons for dog barking might include, boredom, hunger, being lonely, something is wrong, the presence of other animals or perhaps she just needs the toilet.

Again the context of the situation will help you to decide the likely cause. But of course it is not fair for you to try to shut the dog up. She may be communicating for a very good reason, you just need to spend some effort in understanding her.

However, dogs are not stupid animals there are situations where they realise that they can use their bark to annoy or force their owner into a particular action. It is at these times that you must show your dog that you are the boss and will not relent to what is effectively bullying.

For instance you dog may have decided that it is time to play and continues barking until you give in and drop what you are doing to amuse her. The problem here is that the dog then learns that all she has to do is to bark whenever she wants something and you will oblige.

This can get very wearing after a quite short period of time. The best approach would have been to show the dog that it cannot get its own way by giving it the cold shoulder.

Ignore it, do not even say anything just turn your back. After repeated actions your dog should eventually get the message.

Of course walks and chances to play are a big part of owning a dog and this is to be looked forward too, but when it is convenient for you not just your dog when it feels like it. This teaches your dog respect and hopefully makes for a quieter household with limited barking dog problems.

Consult a good book on dog obedience training like SitStayFetch to solve many of the problems you will encounter when you are training your dog.

Dog Aggression Training

Aggression in a dog is something, which an owner should not tolerate and should be dealt with as soon as the problem arises. However, in order for an owner to find the right kind of dog aggression training they should be using to control this problem they need to understand the kinds of aggression that dogs suffer from.

In this article, we take a look at just what these are. It is important to remember that a dog may not only show just one type of aggression in fact they could show several.

1. Dominance – This is where the dog you own thinks that they are in fact the alpha member of the group and will assert themselves more, especially against those they consider to be predators. This type of aggression is often found in male dogs and certain breeds. In order for you as the owner to bring this particular problem under control you will need to quickly establish who is pack leader (you).

2. Fear – This is type of aggression occurs when a dog feels insecure or frightened. They will often react to a disturbance or when being approached by either barking, growling, they may bare their teeth, snap or bite. In some cases, if they feel cornered or threatened they may actually bite. It is important that you do not think that your dog will grow out of this problem, as they will not.

3. Territorial or Over Protective – This type of aggression in a dog could cause them to be a danger to anyone (not just strangers). They will not only feel territorial about the things in your home, but will also feel territorial when they are out walking with you.

4. Possessive – This can make a real Jekyll and Hyde out of your dog, one minute they can loving and playful the next they are baring their teeth or snapping at you. This will normally occur when you approach something that they consider to be theirs. In many cases, a major trigger for this type of aggression is when you approach them when they are eating. If you want to stop this problem, you need to react as soon as you notice it occurring.

5. Punishment – This type of aggression normally occurs in a dog where they have been incorrectly punished or their owner is trying to exert their dominance of the animal. Although they may not respond aggressively, in the beginning to such treatment over any period of time, things will change and sooner or later, they are going to turn and become aggressive.

Above we have looked at just a few of the types of aggression, which a dog may suffer from. Only once you are able to identify just what type of aggressive behaviour it is your dog suffers from, can you then find the right kind of dog aggression training for them. A quick search of the internet and you are going to be able to quite easily find the right kind of training for both you and your dog.

Electric Shock Dog Collar

If you are interested in getting an electric shock dog collar for your dog, there are a few things that you are going to want to be aware of first. Mainly you are going to want to learn more about the argument on whether the electronic shock dog collar is cruel or humane.

What The Electric Shock Dog Collar Are

In order to make your own conclusion on whether the electric shock dog collar is cruel or not, you are first going to need to learn more about this type of dog collar in general and how they work. One thing only, you must know what you are doing. If you are a beginners, get the Swedish Silent Nylon Training Collar from trainingcollar.com and start in a dog training club to get the basic knowledge.

These dog collars make dog training easy for you, so that you can teach your dog how to stop barking. You only need to keep the collar on them for a certain period of time, after which they will have been permanently trained and you can take the collar off and should never have to put it back on them again.

They work by lightly shocking your dog when they bark, not enough to harm them but just enough to make them realize that what they are doing wrong. You should start by putting the electric shock dog collar on at times throughout the day or night when your dog may bark but should not be, for instance when you have guests over or when you are leaving to go to work in the morning.

Where to Buy Electric Shock Dog Collar

If you have decided that the dog collar is safe to try on your dog, which it is, and you would like to try one on your own dog, you can generally just head to your local pet supply store and find what you need.

These dog collars are so popular that there is almost no pet store that you can find that will not offer a electric shock dog collar selection for you to choose from.

These are really great dog training devices, well worth a try at least, if your dog has a problem with barking. Every good pet owner will make sure that their dog is trained properly and not being rude or upsetting to you and your guests.

You want your dog to be polite and welcoming, and make sure that they do not annoy or frighten you or people in your home. This is certainly not the only device out there that you can use to get your dog to stop barking, but this is definitely one of the best options out there today.

Is A Wide Leather Dog Collar Right For Your Dog?

All dogs need a dog collar because it's usually required by law. You might like the look of wide leather dog collars. But is this the right kind of collar for your dog? You need to take in mind your dog's physique, temperament and any training issues he or she might have. You might discover that the best dog collar isn't a wide leather dog collar at all.

If Your Dog Pulls

Some dog trainers will recommend a wide leather dog collar to help discourage dogs from pulling strongly on the lead. This is better than using a choke chain (which can often cause spinal damage in dogs) and far better than a dog shock collar (which should be banned). Stay far away from any trainer who advises the use of shock collars.

But, in the end, no gadget will help your dog stop pulling, not even a wide leather dog collar. For example Labradors need patient and persistent training to get them to stop. When they pull, you stop and do not go any further. You only walk when the dog is behaving. It's hard to do, but it's the only sure cure.

This writer has a strong pulling dog. I just got used to it. I did teach her to stop and look back at me on command. The pulling actually makes her seem a little wild and kept undesirable people away. In order to keep her from choking, I attach her lead to a chest harness instead of her collar (which is nylon and not a wide leather dog collar).

How Big Is Your Dog?

Wide leather dog collars need to be on dogs with necks big enough to wear them comfortably. Your dog might not be the biggest in the world, but if he has a massive neck, then perhaps it will take a wide leather dog collar. Breeds that can take wide leather dog collars include Mastiffs, Bullmastiffs, Neapolitan Mastiffs, any of the bulldog breeds and some Great Danes.

Special Occasion

Genuine leather is beautiful and durable, but is also very expensive and can be difficult and time-consuming to clean. You might also have a dog that can’t resist the smell of genuine wide leather dog collars and decides to eat it. Not all dogs will eat leather, but quite a lot will. Also, if any animal-rights activists are nearby, you will get the evil eye from them for using genuine leather.

You might want to save the wide leather dog collar for special occasions such as going to the dog photographer and have a nylon collar for everyday wear.

Seven Choices For A Puppy Training Collar

A puppy training collar, in my opinion, is a necessity for anyone getting a dog, just as a regular dog collar is a necessity. The regular dog collar is a simple cloth collar to the elaborate leather dog collar, it’s all about choice with this one. There are several types of the puppy training collar available, from the choke chain, pronged collars, bark collars and electronic collars. We will discuss the possibilities in these categories, but be advised, that if you don’t train your puppy his bad habits will cause you unhappiness. Eventually some people have their animals put down when the bad habits become more then they want to deal with. If you bother to take the time to train your dog, all of this can be avoided.

What the Different Puppy Training Collars Are About

While the choke chain sounds like a return on the Inquisition, its not like it sounds, but the name is long standing and isn’t probably going to go away. You can call it a puppy training collar and avoid the nasty image of the choke chain. What it actually is, is a simple collar with an ability to tighten as the dog pulls. The best one is the Swedish Training Collar. The collar tightens the more he pulls away. Most dogs take very little time to get the association, so this puppy training collar is most often quick, painless and the puppy training collar can be quite inexpensive. This help with teach a dog to walk with you, not walk you. It can also teach him to sit, heel, etc.

The pronged collar serves the exact same purpose as the choke chain, but there are prongs inside the collar, which pinch the dog if he pulls to hard. While most people with small animals don’t feel the need to use this, people with larger animals often find it a necessity. Puppies get excited, they jump, lunge, try to run and do all sorts of things that can injure yourself or others. This type of puppy training collar is very effective and often only takes a couple of tries before the dog learns what he is supposed to do.

Electronic collars are just the same as the prong collar, and choke chain in purpose, but it uses a small electronic zap to convince your dog he is making the wrong choice. They also have these collars with virtual fences.

Bark collars are a puppy training collar, but are designed to address the specific problem. The choices are myriad to a small electronic shock when they bark, to a spray of water or other smell dogs don’t like.

While ongoing training and reminder training never stops, most dog really do learn quickly and the puppy training collar is your most helpful tool.

Invisible Fence: Right For You?

Keeping your dog safe is always a priority. This is why many responsible dog owners buy an Invisible Fence system.

Invisible Fence is a wireless pet containment system. An electrical wire is laid underground along the outside of an area. The dog is fitted with a special electronic collar. When the dog approaches the boundary, a warning beep sounds. This gives the dog the time to back away from the perimeter. If the dog ignores the beeping, a mild electric shock is delivered via the electronic collar to the dog's neck.

Some people feel this containment technique is cruel, but it's not. The shock is very mild, as the power comes from batteries in the dog's collar, not from the buried wire. It takes the dog by surprise. And the shock level is adjusted according to the size of the dog — smaller dogs get a much smaller shock.

Note that Invisible Fence, like all electronic pet fences, doesn't work its magic by itself. The dog must be conditioned to run away from the boundary when the warning beep occurs. Little flags are placed along the perimeter to act as visual cues during the training, which initially occurs with a leashed dog. The collar is also placed into training (no shock) mode.

To perform the conditioning, the owner approaches the perimeter with the dog. As soon as the dog passes the flags that mark the boundary, the collar will start beeping. The owner immediately tugs on the leash and walks quickly away from the boundary, calling the dog's name. With lots of praise and encouragement, the owner makes it a fun game for the dog.

Done over several training sessions, the dog learns to immediately leave the perimeter area as soon as the beeping occurs. Eventually the training is done without a leash and with the collar in its normal mode. If the dog ignores the beeping, the first shock it receives is usually enough to cause it to heed the collar's warning the next time it approaches the boundary.

Not every dog needs containment with an Invisible Fence system. But it works surprisingly well for those that do.

Dog Training Rules

dog training school

If a dog owner wants to train his dog, he should prepare for the right mindset. This would prevent him from violating any dog rules, an act that could really detriment the dog's interest on learning.

Following the rules of training will also prevent the owner from doing the things that could harm his relationship with the dog. There are certain rules in collar dog training that must be followed including the following:

Stay focused


Incompletion of a task usually leads to confusion. Ensure to it that every time you give the dog a command, both of you will follow through it. Try not to be distracted whenever you order a command.

Say you are asking your dog to sit. When the command is given, make sure both of you follow through with it. Do not tug on the collar of your dog and stop halfway and be distracted. Always finish one command first then move on to the next.

The dog should sit completely and not just bend his rear legs. If you do not make this happen, the dog will think that next time you give the command it would be okay for him not to complete the task or to ignore it completely. Always stay focused, this way, you would eliminate the possibility of confusion and maximize the obedience to a command.

Rewards and punishments

Many owners are anxious to let their dogs hear a string of praises or be rewarded with several cookies instead of one whenever a command is accomplished. On the other hand, a lot of owners give too many punishments on a single wrong thing that the dog did instead of punishing him just once. Both may affect the training of the dog.

Never over do the rewarding or punishing of the dog's behavior. If you are using praises as reward, do not over praise the dog. Praising your dog will make the dog realize that you are in favor of his abilities. This should be said immediately after the command is accomplished.

In the same way, a single pulling of the check cord will be enough if the dog did not follow your command. A signal will be sent to the dog to inform them that something is wrong.

The dog will become distracted from learning if you continue to offer rewards or punishment. He would only remember the praises or the punishments and not the thing he did or he did not do.

End with a positive note

For every training session, make it a point that the training will end with a positive praise. The dog will welcome the next session as they will feel the need to please you. Also, ensure to it that the last command was accomplished correctly so that the dog is oriented properly to following commands.

Do not lose patience

Often when trainers don’t get the results they want, they get impatient with the dog. They then may do something that will ruin the training.

Dog training lessons should be an enjoyable experience for you and your pet. You should try to determine your pitfalls if you begin to lose your temper and your dog remains disobedient.

Dog training is really a difficult business. If you are not prepared for it, you could get help from dog training classes and instructors.

Understanding Better German Shepperds

Many people associate German Shepherd Dogs with being aggressive watchdogs, but this behavior is the result of training. A German Shepherd Dog will always be protective of his family and will always be wary of strangers, but they are not aggressive by nature.

For me German Shepherds are defined by beauty and soundness of mind and body all come together. Don't leave the purchase of your German Shepherd to chance. German Shepherds also are prone to pancreas deficiency, which is where the pancreas stops creating enzymes and the animal is unable to pass any faeces. There is medication available, but it is not 100% effective. and also expensive, so be sure you have a proper pet medical insurance.

German Shepherds are double-coated with a coarse, water-resistent outer coat and a heavy, woolly undercoat. They are heavy shedders, especially in spring, and require regular combing. In the former East Germany , German Shepherds adhered more closely to the old prewar standard, marked by a straighter back, a longer and denser coat, and a darker color.

These dogs are now praised for their working ability. Since many German Shepherds have sensitive stomachs, it may be wise to phase in the new diet by mixing it with their existing food until they have adapted. Start by mixing the diet with their existing food in equal amounts. A typical German Shepherd's body is slightly longer than tall is sturdy but lean. It has a slightly convex forehead, long muzzle, pointed ears and almond-shaped eyes that are set (as opposed to protruding) with an amiable expression. The coloring of the German Shepherd Dog can vary and includes black and tan, sable, and black. The German Shepherd Dog weighs in at 60-80 pounds for females, and 75-100 pounds for males.

The German Shepherd is a herding dog, originally bred from sheep-tending stock in rural Germany. The founder of the breed was Cavalry Captain Max Von Stephanitz, who almost single handedly developed the breed through judicious inbreeding and line breeding, from 1899 to 1936. German shepherd dogs are fearless, eager and alert. Known for their tremendous loyalty and courage. They are not "show dogs", but they are the best because they are the the most unspoiled and uncommercialized, and the closest to the original German Shepherd Dog of old Germany. That used to be the famous and the first German dogs that you use to read in books.

This is the root of our German shepherd dog breeder program and for the love of the this magnificent breed. Secondary sex characteristics are strongly marked, and every animal gives a definite impression of masculinity or femininity, according to its sex. The correct proportions of height to length and corresponding length of the leg bones results in a ground-eating gait that is low to the ground and imparts an impression of effortless progression. With his head thrust forward and a slightly raised tail, a balanced and even trotter will have a topline that falls in moderate curves from the tip of the ears over the neck and level back through the tip of the tail.

The German Shepherd, these days, is used more as a guard dog. The GSD is also one of the most popular breeds in USA, and the UK. The German Shepherd has a scissor bite, where the upper incisors must meet the lower incisors in a scissor grip. Level bite, overshot and undershot teeth are faulty, as well as widely spaced teeth. Many of us grew up with Rin Tin Tin, or we saw German Shepherds in nightly news reports breaking up riots, or we saw them in neighbors’ backyards protecting children. But that only scratches the surface of one of the most fascinating and confusing breeds on earth. So take care of your German Shepherd, they always need love and a good healthly life. Love them and they will love you back, invest in them, and remember to give them every month frontline plus for dogs and have for them a proper pet health insurance. They deserve it !

Not Ready for Prime Time Dogs

Just Cool Dogs

How often do you hear an owner shout, 'Bad dog' when what really needs to be said is 'bad handler'. It just aint cool when a dog jumps on you and puts paw prints over everything you're wearing. When your front yard is the chosen venue for the next door dog to leave his many calling cards, this is also frustrating. The dogs are no worse than the children of the neighbor. What else other than bad behavior can you expect from animals and kids when the concerned adults have no idea what they are supposed to do?

The dog ought to be given pre-set behavioral limits when inside or when it is taken to public places. Sensible owners take the help of dog trainers who teaches them proper handling methods without breaking the natural spirit. Your vet office or local pet stores can put you in touch with trainers who hold group discussions with the owners along with their pet; or enroll in an online course to tackle any problems instantly.

A section of this training is involved with tutoring the owner how to handle his pet. There is a saying amongst trainers however that it is far easier to train dogs than the people that own them! Dogs need to practice when they are taught to walk with leash when they are taken out and for this they need to walk around in a yard or any other area. Owner and other residents get irritated when these animals bark even if it is a typical occurrence. When they bark, they are simply communicating with us; a reprimand him might give them the wrong signal and confuse them.

So why does a dog bark? Well, just like a young child or baby, it needs attention, food or something to drink. The noise of a dog barking can alarm the owners of a burglar intrusion so attempting to stop him from doing this may work against you. It is wrong to encourage a puppy to bark and then punish him for barking when he attains adulthood.

Trainers teach you how to promote the dog behavior you prefer by praising your pet and giving them the occasional treat. How do you make your puppy stop the undesired behavior? Well, simply learn to reward him when he does something which is 'desired' behavior. You can not teach a dog some behavioral pattern which contradicts his natural breed. To make your pet follow specific behavioral training, you ought to choose one from a breed with can give you what you need. Dedication, patience and a loving attitude are needed if you wish to train a dog.

How To Choose Dog Training Schools

dog obedience training

The truth is there are so many dog courses that offer their services to anyone willing to pay them. The problem though is not all schools will meet your standards or your expected guarantees. Here are some points of considerations when trying to choose a good school for training your dog.

Reputable

Reputation has different meanings to different people- for some it is the capacity to yield good results regardless of the means, for others it is the popularity of the school itself which makes it highly recommended. Knowing the school by reputation is a good indicator as to the popularity of the school and the training methods used. It also reflects how many people have trusted on them.

To find a school with excellent reputation you could ask around or search through websites. Veterinarians usually have several names of schools and trainers to give you, your dog breeder could also provide you with some references and ASPCA or the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals can provide a list of registered names that are sure to use humane methods approved by the organization.


Methods of Training

Any self-respecting training school uses responsible dog agility training methods. The school must have equal concern to your dog as you do, treating your dog one of their own. Beware of schools that employ trainers who still use old training methods such as yelling or hurting the dogs for there exists many of this kind.

A good school should use humane techniques that promote positive training and limits the use of risky negative reinforcement techniques. The former covers praises and the use of dog treats in recognition of the desirable behavior while the negative reinforcement techniques include practices like alpha rolling, choking and yelling.

Sufficient knowledge

The knowledge on training of the schools must range from the oldest unreliable method to the latest training techniques for dogs. Having extensive orientation in this field would optimize the capacity of your dog to learn since it would be exposed to all possible trainings to which it could respond well.

When researching training schools, look for information on seminars with dog trainers for a good idea on what they offer. Remember that you would pay hefty amounts to get your dog trained, it is but proper that you and your dog receive proper compensation for your investment.

The school's exposure to widespread training is another thing that you should keep in mind. There are schools that claim of specialization while others advertise that they have sufficient knowledge on all fields of dog training. Your choice should depend largely on the scope of knowledge the training school has.

Classroom Arrangement

There are two different classes of rooms setup providing private lessons. The main advantage of the group class is that it promotes socialization and good behavior in the presence of other dogs. When training alongside his dog, the handlers' mistakes or techniques could benefit the owner.

On the other hand, private trainings could not yield these advantages. There is also a good chance that the transfer of learning and obedience to command given by persons other than the trainer is poor.

It is easy to pick any dog training school but choosing the right one for your dog could prove to be a tedious process.