The Importance Of Dog Training

Dog training is an important part of owning a pet. Many people do not fully understand the importance of puppy training. Some even believe that training is used to turn dogs into mindless robots or show dogs. This is not the case. A properly trained dog will be a safe pet and a pleasant companion.

Puppy Training is All About Communication

Training a dog is not about subduing an animal into following the whims of its owner. It is about communicating with the dog so that it knows which behaviors are undesirable. Animals that are trained are less likely to have behavioral problems.

Experts recommend that dogs are trained regardless of the owner's lifestyle or the dog's breed. Ideally, owners will start training their dog while it is still a puppy. This is because it is much harder to train an older dog. It is worth noting that different breeds may require different training techniques.

For example, a Great Dane and a Chihuahua are very different types of dogs. Each puppy will need techniques specific to their size and temperament.

How to Train a Puppy
Puppy training starts with obedience training techniques. Firstly, the dog must learn its name and start responding to it when the owner calls it out. The next step is teaching the puppy to come when its name is called. Eventually, owners can start teaching their puppies to sit and lie down. Training is most successful when dog owners start with simple commands. Once the puppy has mastered these simple commands, the owner can move on to more complicated tasks.

When a dog has been trained, it will become a disciplined and docile pet. It will follow commands and stop engaging in destructive behavior such as chewing. A well-trained dog will also be safer for family, friends and neighbors. Training is especially important for dogs that are capable of damage or injury. Trained dogs will not chase cats or be aggressive to children, other animals or adults. Dog owners should be aware that if their pet bites somebody, they may be forced to put it down. This depends on the laws in their area.

Dog training is not an easy task. It requires a great deal of patience and perseverance. As most people are not experts in this field, it may be wise to consider hiring a professional. Professional puppy trainers can come into the home, assess the puppy and teach the owner basic training skills. Learning dog training skills and techniques can be time consuming without the help of a professional. Due to this, most dog owners would benefit from a few training sessions. These sessions will show the owner how to start training their dog and how to continue when the trainer has left. After a few weeks, the owner can ask the trainer to come back and assess their progress. Canine owners that do this will have a happy well-trained dog. This will improve the overall quality of life in their home.

The Benefits Of Training Your Pets

When a dog becomes a part of your family, it is very important for you to ensure that they are taken care of properly. After all, the dog is going to look to you for the benefits that it needs, such as those of taking care of their health, making sure that they are eating properly, and to look after the exercise that they need as well. Something else that you may want to consider, however, is the importance of making sure that your dog is well trained. This can not only provide more of a comfortable atmosphere within the home, it also has benefits for both the dog and the dog trainer as well.

Of course, one of the most important reasons for you to train your dog is so that it will be obedient to your commands. This can not only make the dog more welcome within the home, it can actually save its life. Consider the following scenario. If you are outside with your animal and a gate happens to be open, the dog may tend to bolt. If the dog were not trained, it would continue to run and may end up getting hurt or perhaps even worse. After some obedience training, however, your dog will learn how to return when you have given the command to do so. It may take a firm voice, but your dog will likely turn around and come back into the yard again.

Another issue that can occur with the dog if it is not trained is that it can be a potential danger to those that are around them. In some cases, a dog is simply going to misbehave, but in other cases, it can cause harm to other individuals. Even if the dog does not intentionally want to cause harm to those people, jumping up on them when they enter into the home is one of the many examples of where injury could occur. In some cases it may knock people over, and in other cases, it may tear their clothing or perhaps scratch their skin. By training your dog well in advance, you will avoid those other problems.

If you are going to be training your dog in a group environment, it can also help to introduce your animal to other animals and make them more social. One of the problems that many people face with pet ownership is the fact that they cannot take their dogs anywhere. With the right type of training, however, they can not only be a loyal companion when you are inside the home, they can be a loyal companion when you go elsewhere as well.

Finally, consider the fact that obedience training is something that can bring both the dog and the owner closer to each other. It is not simply something that is going to teach your dog how to sit or to lay down on command, it can form a bond that will last for a lifetime. That is why many people that first begin training their dog to give them basic obedience find that it is enjoyable and continue to do so for the long term.

Down Boy! Stopping Your Boisterous Dog From Jumping

If you have ever walked into your friend's house and at the door you get pounced on by a dog, then you probably know how annoying it feels. If you are dressed for an evening out and you go to your date's house to pick him up and get jumped on and pawed by his dog, wouldn't that make you mad? It is important as a dog owner to actively train your dog so that it does not jump on people when they walk into your house. Many people consider this a normal doggie behavior but as a cautionary measure, you should properly train your dog because you never know how an individual will react when a dog instantly pounces on him.

The effect is more tremendous if the victim involved is a child, an elderly person or a person who is handicapped. A child or a person who is handicapped can easily lose grip when pounced on by a dog and end up falling down and even if they don't fall they are likely to be scared and upset by the situation, something definitely to be avoided.

If you have a dog, then the question should be why does it jump? To answer this, you should know that the three main reasons that may lead a dog to jump include excitement by the dog, a dog looking for attention and lastly a dog that is aggressive in nature will generally jump on people.

As a way of getting your dog to stop jumping, you need to take your dog through obedience training.
The training requires that you come up with commands to effectively control your dog's behavior. Among the commands you can come up with are commands like "sit" and "stop." These commands will help you control your dog's behavior anytime someone walks through your door.

There are other ways of ensuring your dog is well mannered if after training it has not yet grasped the commands or you have not yet started training it. Among the ways you can use include lifting up your knee whenever your dog begins to jump on you. This will act as a blockage preventing your dog from actually reaching on you. In case you are not good at balancing and you need to prevent your dog from jumping on you, you can simply turn your body away from the dog. You can continuously ignore your dog anytime it tries jumping on you until the dog stops jumping on you.

Once your dog changes its behavior and stops jumping on people, you can pet him and show him attention. By doing this, your dog will understand that he is only given attention when he stops jumping on people and so it will refrain from jumping on people.

If after trying all the possible solutions you still cannot control your dog from jumping on people, then you should think about using a choke collar. You can use a choke collar together with a leash.

Every time your dog shows a behavior that is unacceptable, then all you need to do is give the leash a tug. Keep in mind that the main reason for using the choke collar is to control the dog's behavior and not to hurt the dog. This measure will completely deter your dog from ever jumping on people.

The important points that you need not forget when dealing with a jumping dog include breaking this jumping habit immediately when your dog displays it and keeping in mind that  dog obedience training session does not give instant results and so you should never give up on the training.

As a lasting solution, you should at no time give a treat to your dog in attempt to preventing it from jumping on guests. Some dog owners make this mistake and the dog gets different signals on how it should behave. You should be consistent on how you treat your dog and on the manner in which you reward it based on specific behaviors it shows. With this under consideration, then you should know that dog jumping is an easy habit to deal with if you use the right training. Patience, time and reinforcement are all you need and you will get your dog behaving in a good way.

The Most Important Lesson: How To Train Your Dog to Come When Called

Whether or not your dog already understands his name, please don't bypass this lesson. We promise you'll learn something!
The first important item we all teach our dogs, even before we notice we're doing any training, is that when we make a targeted specific sound, we want their attention. This "sound" is their name. This is the first step in how to teach a dog to come.

That's all it is, and that's all it will be used for.
Many pet owners tend to think of their dog's name as more than just that. They use it as a "catch-all" command with several meanings that vary depending on what they want their dog to do at the moment.

You're dog may be the most intelligent dog in the world, but he is not a mind reader.
You shouldn't use your dog's name any differently than a child's name. Prepare to use your dog's name in the same way you would when talking with a child - to get focus and attention. That's it. Right after that, use other sounds (commands) and actions to tell or demonstrate him what you hope for him to do.

Important dog training advice: Even after your dog understands his name, he may persist with doing whatever he was doing when he hears you use it. Don't get bothered or impatient. And don't repeat his name: "Max... Max!... MAX!!!" Doing this will only teach your dog to neglect you until he hears his name over and over. We'll give you more effective solutions.
So let's get started with the lesson.

Training your dog to come.

Check out this lesson first, and then apply it with your dog.

1. First, fill up your pocket (or a bag or pouch) with 20 or so dog bones.

2. Go with your dog to a spot where there won't be a lot of diversions.

3. Wait until your dog looks at something other than you, then call his name, but only once.

4. When he looks back at you, right away give him a treat and say "Good!" (Or whatever you have chosen as the primary reinforcing stimulus, term or clicker.)

5. Now move a few steps to another site and again wait for your dog to be looking away from you.

6. Call your dog's name again and quickly reward him again with the snack and give encouragement as soon as he looks at you.

7. Repeat this process five times. If your dog was particularly distracted before replying to his name, give him additional praise and treats.

If your dog doesn't do what you want

If you say his name and he doesn't look at you, he may be too distracted. Move him a few paces to a different location and try again.

Call his name. Use an enthusiastic tone of voice. Give immediate rewards if he looks at you.
If he still doesn't reply to his name, clap your hands, whistle or make another attention-getting sound. When he looks, say his name once again and immediately give the rewards. Do this as a final attempt. You want him to learn to respond to his name, not the other sounds.
Another approach: put the treat in your palm and let your dog sniff your enclosed fist so he'll know it's there. Remove your hand away and hold it until your dog looks away from you. Say his name and immediately reward his response.

If your dog continues to pay no attention to his name after many attempts, try moving to a less distracting location. (Distractions include smells, not just sights and sounds.)
Keep trying, be patient, and remember not to repeat his name. Give immediate rewards when he responds.

During these sessions, you'll be training yourself as well as your dog. The meaningful lesson for you: Learn to say your dog's name only once. This is hard for most people.
We rely on spoken dialogue. Dogs don't. So you'll have to train yourself not to do what may come naturally: reiterating yourself until you get a reply.

Rehearse this lesson a bunch of times each day during the week. Differ the time of day and location (both inside and outside). Do not, however, move to areas with greater distractions to challenge your dog with higher degrees of difficulty, even if he is a fast learner.

Focus on saying your dog's name only once.

Remember: do not use your dog's name as a "catch-all" command with multiple definitions. As your training progresses, you'll learn that each desired action will have it's own individual command (and it won't be your dog's name).

In Addition to Practicing This Lesson...

Learn the method of encourage that is the best motivation for your dog. Food treats can be kept fresh by placing them in sealable plastic bags and storing them in the fridge.

Focus on positive reinforcement. You'll be teaching your dog that paying attention to you and learning are fun. Your goal is to have an excited student, eager for each training session. Use treats your dog loves most, and give them immediately as swift reinforcers.

Remember to use a blend of primary (treats) and secondary (praise or clicker) reinforcers together. When your dog responds accurately, immediately give the treat and say "Good!" Always use the same praise word/phrase.

Have fun playing with your dog! Don't focus all your time together on training. Spend lots of quality time just enjoying each other's company. Teaching your dog to come is only part of the battle - the rest is bonding and building trust between you and your dog.

The Best Use of Training Collars for Your Dog

Many people have had the experience of being awakened in the middle of the night by a barking dog. This can be very annoying. Inconsiderate neighbors leave their dog out at night, which creates a nuisance for the entire neighborhood. It's really not the dog's fault. He's just doing what's natural for him. Fortunately, there is a way to train dogs to behave appropriately and to be an asset to the owner and neighborhood rather than a burden. Training collars for dogs provide mild electrical shock or stimulation to the dog, which alters his tendency to bark. The number of times the dog actually barks can be reduced significantly with training collars. Some people think that using such devices is cruel to dogs, but this is not so. The most important thing about training collars is that they are not cruel devices at all. Being kind and humane to dogs and other pets is an absolute requirement. Training is not about being cruel. It is about teaching the animal appropriate behavior. Dogs have a great capacity to learn.

There are really many different kinds of training collars. There are some very inexpensive ones which are very good, as well as more high-class types. The important thing is to buy and use the type that best fits your needs as an owner. You should have a clear idea in the beginning as to what you want to accomplish when you are training your dog. Problem barking can be an issue, but there may be other things about which you want to train your dog. For example, you may want your dog to come immediately when summoned and not to get distracted with something else. Being obedient is very important. A dog who does not do what his owner wants can be very problematic.
Dogs make great companions. They can be protectors and keep a good watch over property and children. Proper training is essential. Of course, you want the best training equipment available and you want to do what is best for your dog.

I love all animals and would never hurt any animal in any way. Dogs have a great ability to receive and give love. Teaching a dog appropriate behavior is really a sign of love. You will spend many, many enjoyable times with your dog when he is properly trained. The dog's ability to give and receive love will bring great joy to your life.

THREE Easy Steps That You Can Do To Build Eye Contact With Your Dog

One of the most important things that you need to teach your dog is eye contact. You can always tell when a dog is truly well trained when you see them constantly looking up at their owners. Teaching your dogs to make eye contact with you is fantastic and should be incorporated into all of your training sessions.

One of the benefits of your dog making eye contact is that it is almost like they are constantly looking up at you to make sure that they are doing the right thing.
You can train your dog to increase their eye contact fairly simply. I like to do it when playing with my dog. Here are three steps to building eye contact with your dog while playing a game with them.

1. We are going to be playing with one of our dog's favourite toys, it can be a ball or a rubber toy, just about anything that your dog likes to play with will work. We are going to show them the toy, but not let them have it. You can hold it behind your back or just hold it on the ground.

2. Your dog will most likely focus all their attention on the toy and may try to get it from you, but don't let them have it. We are going to wait for the dog to stop looking at the toy and look up at us. In the beginning it may take a long time for them to look up, but it will get easier the more you repeat it.

3. When your dog finally looks up at you as if to say when are we going to play, that is when you can praise your dog and give them the toy to play with. Then you just need to repeat this process a few times until your dog looks up at you as soon as you take away the toy.
This process can be done in a variety of situations. Try it before giving your dog their dinner or any other food reward. When you are training your dog you can also wait for them to make eye contact with you before you reward them.

You will see a noticeable improvement in your dog after a few weeks of working on this with your dog. In the end you will have a much more enjoyable dog to work with and live with.

How to Toilet Train a Dog

Learning how to toilet train a dog can be frustrating but it can also be lot of fun. One of the underlying factors I have found through walking my own dog is that people say that they do not have the time to teach toilet training methods to the dog and yes it is fundamentally true that it is easier when the dog is a pup but teaching it can be applied at virtually any age. Although with older dogs it is a lot more difficult.

The key thing when teaching your dog toilet training methods is Patience and Perseverance. You must keep a cool head as this is a training process and like with all other things don't give up after the first attempt or after a few days/weeks as this is where perseverance becomes a major factor. When you have a child you teach the child as you go along. The same thing can be a blueprint for you to toilet train your dog too.

3 key factors I used myself when I was toilet training my dog were as follows and I found them to be quite helpful. A friend of mine gave me these 3 tips and I would like to share them with you.

1 - Dogs tend to be repetitious in their habits so keep an eye out for when they need to do there business as they will give you signs such as waiting at the door, ready to go outside. Dogs do not relieve themselves in places they tend to be familiar with.

2 - Do not scold the dog if they do have an accident whilst in your home or somewhere in a public place like a park. This will only cause distress to the dog and upset them and they are very likely to do it again. Clear up the mess with a dog bag discreetly and dispose of it in a proper manner. Issue a firm "NO" to the dog and look at them straight in the face and this has more of an impact that scolding. This method works but again patience and perseverance play a major role here.

3 - Trust,
You dog needs to gain your trust and trust is a very important part here. Whenever your dog has an accident in the house say, it needs to feel safe in the knowledge that they are not going to be severely punished for it and it needs this for self-confidence and gaining your trust will only help you in toilet training your dog.