Sunday, May 31, 2009

Online Dog Obedience Training

Online Dog Obedience Training

Dogs are social animals and a lack of training often brings out the wild behavior in them. You have just two options for training your dog. You can either hire a personalized trainer or train your dog yourself. Online dog training courses are an affordable and convenient way to train your dog and will teach you step by step what you need to know about training your dog. You can purchase a course and be training your dog in a matter of minutes. Dog obedience training helps your dog develop good behavior and leads to a more enjoyable and well behaved dog.

Here are just a few of the dog problems you can expect to solve through an online dog training course.

Problems with Housebreaking
Do you have a dog or a puppy that just can't seem to "hold it"? Is the flooring in your home (along with your patience) being destroyed?

Not Coming When Called
You call and call and call and call. Yet your dog totally ignores you...or worse yet...runs the opposite way. But imagine your dog instantly coming to you every time you call it's name...even if it's distracted by another dog, a toy or a piece of food!

Jumping On People
The door bell rings. A visitor enters your home...and your dog immediately jumps all over them. Sound familiar?

Biting and Nipping
It hurts, it's dangerous and if your dog bites the wrong person...it can even be very costly.

Chewing On Things
A dog's nature is to chew. The trick is to make them only chew on what you want...and not on everything else in your house.

Nervous or Shy dogs
A person approaches your dog and it cowers in the corner. Your dog shakes or is terrified to be out in public. Or during a thunderstorm, your dog whimpers, has an accident and then hides under the bed. These are all common behaviors of nervous or shy dogs.


No matter what behavior problems your dog has, do not be discouraged. You can find plenty of professional help using an online dog training course.

If you are interested in a having a more obedient dog and sharing a better relationship with your dog, an online dog training course is definitely a good and very affordable solution.

About The Author:
For more information on training your dog, visit Instant Dog Training Videos.

Posted on August 14, 2008 by Ross Branham | Posted under Pets

Be a responsible dog owner and consider using a dog training collar!

We love dogs and we consider them to be our best friends; however, how much do we love them after barking at the slightest sound heard outside or at two o'clock in the morning? There are many reasons why dogs misbehave and there are just as many owners who are discouraged when it comes to training their beloved pets. For many owners, experts in the field of dog training have developed innovative devices in the form of remote dog training collars. Online, there are plenty of attractive offers for such products and also a lot of information on the subject. Dog owners should have no problem in finding a highly effective remote dog training collars, destined to make their pets behave properly.

Of course dogs bark. It is their natural instinct to do so every time they want to express their feelings or warn their owners of potential dangers. At the same time, they might bark when they have a difference of opinions with a cat or even another dog for that matter. The truth is that they are bound to bark sooner or later, no matter how hard you try to train them. Having a dog that makes constant noise is not only upsetting for you but also annoying for your neighbours who might not be so happy with the incessant barking. This is why you should consider one of the remote dog training collars, allowing you to train your dog in an efficient and comfortable manner. You will be able to enjoy special times with your dog, finally taking advantage of him being the perfect companion.

How do remote dog training collars work and where can you actually buy one? First of all, you must understand one essential aspect: these collars may be electronic devices but they are not going to harm your dog in any matter whatsoever. Throughout the entire training period, while wearing the collar your dog will be 100% comfortable, the only difference being observed when it comes to barking. The dog will not perceive the collar as an act of punisment; on the contrary, he will understand that barking is not such a fun activity at all times. The remote training dog collar is innovative and highly effective; being placed around the neck, it controls all of your dog's intentions to misbehave. He barks too loud, you press the buttons and release a cold spray on his neck or chin; some are odourless and others have a citronella smell. Despite all the fun he had while barking, he will nevertheless stop, his attention being caught by the smell or simply by the cool feeling provoked by the spray. Featuring a 300 m range of activity and also a sound button, the dog training collar will be the best thing that you ever invested in.

The best thing about dog training collars is that there are suitable for all dog sizes and various breeds. One just has to use the Internet and find out more about the potential advantages of using such electronic devices. For example, small dog training collars are extremely useful to correct abnormal behavior of small breeds such as: Yorkshire terrier, Bichon Frise, Chihuahua and Shih Tzu. Even small dogs can present behavioral problems, barking without any apparent reason and disturbing the quiet of the neighborhood. If you want a completely safe and efficient way to stop your dog from his continuous barking, then you have definitely have to consider small dog training collars, easily to be mounted and just as easy refilled.

Small dog training collars use an electronic device to release a spray in order to attract the dog's attention from what ever he is doing. No matter if the dog goes to the garbage making a mess everywhere, if he leaves paw marks all around the living room or barks continuously at the new teddy bear you just bought, this device is guaranteed to correct all the problems of your pet. If you do decide to go for small dog training collars that release a citronella smell, then you are guaranteed to amaze your dog with the citric smell. Sensing the unknown smell, he will instantly forget about all his adventures and stop barking, concentrating simultaneously to identify the source. Such electronic devices are perfect for those small dogs that can sometimes be extremely annoying, disturbing not only the neighbors but even the owners.

The next time you see your dog misbehaving and barking when he feels like, consider the possibility of a dog training collar. Go online and see the differences between various training kits offered by specialized companies in the field. Read carefully about the information provided and make sure that you choose the dog training collar that best fits your pet. Do not let your pet to become master of the domain and show him who the boss is without being too pushy or strict! Remember, you don't have to resort to violence as long as you can benefit from some of the greatest innovations in the field, such as remote dog training collars.

About The Author:
If you want to learn how to train your dog effectively, you have come to the right place. We have innovative remote dog training collars, especially tailored for all breeds and sizes. Just make sure that you pay us a visit and see what a dog training collar can do for you and your dog!

Posted on November 16, 2008 by Scribbler | Posted under Pets Dogs

Saturday, May 30, 2009

Labrador Retrievers: Signs and Symptoms of Pregnancy

There are various reasons why dog owners purposely breed their Labrador Retrievers. One reason is that their dog is up to breed standard and they want to produce a litter. Some dog owners want to improve the breed. In some instances unknown to the owner, breeding may also took place despite that dogs are carefully confined when they are in season. No matter what the reasons are, it is important to know the signs if your Lab is in the family way.

A female dog can only become pregnant if she is bred during her heat cycle. Canine cycle, referred as estrous cycle has four stages. The first stage is proestrus in which the female dog is attractive to males but not receptive to them. This stage generally lasts six to eleven days. This stage has already ended when the dog becomes receptive to the male and will stand to be bred. The next stage is the estrus, the actual fertile stage in which the female dog is now receptive to male. This stage lasts five to nine days. This stage has ended when the female is not receptive to the male anymore. The third stage is the diestrus, a non-receptive time and the last stage of the estrous cycle is the anestrus in which no ovarian activity took place.

Dog pregnancy generally lasts 60-65 days. Early signs of pregnancy in dogs include loss of appetite, sudden decrease in activity, nipple growth and behavioral changes. As the pregnancy progresses, further signs occur. Three to four weeks into the pregnancy, you will notice an increase in appetite and weight gain by one month. Around five weeks, your dog's nipple will develop and she will begin to look broader. Increase in abdomen size can be seen and uterine swelling around the placental sites that feels like firm and discrete lumps exist. During the last few weeks of pregnancy, puppy movement can be felt and milk production begins.

Dog pregnancy can also be detected through x-rays, ultrasound or blood test. Blood test can be done by a veterinarian 30 days after being bred. In some cases, a female dog will display signs of dog pregnancy without actually being pregnant. That is why it is important to visit your veterinarian to confirm the pregnancy and that proper care will be given. Dog owners should always remember that their pregnant Labrador Retrievers need special care to make sure that they are ready when the time comes.

About The Author:
Richard Cussons writes articles about Labrador Retrievers and other dog breeds. Discover essential Labrador training tips at labradorsavvy.com.

The Easiest Way To Dog Training

According to Sarpell, what happens to puppies while they are growing in their mother’s womb consequently affects their long-term behavior because puppies are sensitive in the womb. The presence of modern technology such as a scan has made it possible to study the behavior of a puppy while it instill within the mother’s womb. Technological advancements have led to a clearer understanding of dogs and their behaviors.

The first eight weeks of a puppy’s life is crucial because they are its formative years. Puppies that are cuddled and petted during the first eight weeks of their lives grow up psychologically and emotionally fine. Dogs that are problematic in nature most likely never had all the physical contact the needed in their early developmental stages.

A dog can send out a variety of signals to its handler and it is up to the handler to receive and interpret those signals properly. Misreading the signals that your dog sends to you during its training can bungle the training up. A dog can signal non-verbally to you that it is unsure, afraid, tired or nervous.

You will want to make sure that nothing hinders your dog from being effectively trained and that means the health of your dog should be top priority. A healthy dog is a responsive dog. Something as pesky as a tick can distract your dog’s attention during a training session, which is why the hygiene and health of your dog is important.

Make sure that your dog understands your language clearly. Don’t praise it for a particular act and then scold it for doing the same thing later on or you will confuse it. Remember that a dog learns by associating or linking things and be careful about how you act in front of your dog.

Some training gadgets are designed with the size of the dog in mind. Some huge dogs have such thick necks that some collars would be a miserable fit on. If you have a particularly large dog, a pronged collar will be good for it.

Dog training tools are at hand to make training your dog easier. Dog training tools include clickers, crates, leashes and collars. Each dog has a tool that it responds to more and it’s your duty to find out which.

There are some breeds of dogs that are more trainable than others. Look for the dog that can be trained easily and get it to a dog trainer as fast as you can. Make sure that your dog is healthy before any form of training is commenced on it to avoid health complications during training.

About The Author:
To learn pertinent tutorials regarding resources about Dog Obedience Training Minnesota , see this website ==> http://www.free-dogtraining-info.com

Posted on November 14, 2008 by AndyErnestpnp | Posted under Pets Dogs

Friday, May 29, 2009

Therapy Dog Training – The Benefits of a Visiting Dog

In some cases, people need a lot more attention, love and support than normal. This happens especially when they are sick. But, the unfortunate truth is that people generally don't have the patience or time to help these sick people. This is where dog therapy training comes in play, teaching dogs how to help these people and keep them company, giving them the emotional support that they need.

Besides normal dog training, these dogs also need specialized teaching. They will learn how to behave around people that are going through therapy and how to provide them with comfort. If they need to provide this help to ill people, these dogs need much more than just a basic training. They will need to be able to do a number of things while being good companions.

Older people and kids are usually those that get therapy dogs to help them deal with their stay in hospitals. Both the dog and the handler will help the patient go through this hard period, by offering him activities and attention that will help.

Hospitals aren't the only places that can benefit from using therapy dogs on their patients. They can also provide great value in retirement homes, schools, nursing homes or mental institutions.

The training that is done on dogs that will be used for therapy derives from other types of trainings and modified, to make them fit the situations that can happen in a hospital. They will be taught to be nice with strangers and to enjoy sitting in their presence. In most cases, these therapy dogs will learn performances and tricks that most people will enjoy seeing.

You could use almost any breed to make a therapy dog, but in most cases breeds with higher temperance are chosen, due to their constant work with people they don't know.

There isn't one single method of training these dogs, but usually they will need to be certified before being allowed to get near patients to help them. Training and certification can be received from animal shelters or therapy dog training classes. Once the certification is received, you can start training the dog for therapy.

With a therapy training, the dog will learn to ignore noise, people that don't need therapy or any kind of hospital equipment. They also learn to do a few basic things or to help the patients do it. They are not service dogs though, so they can't do the same things.

These dogs are trained to help people by visiting them and giving them some company and joy. They are not trained to stay with them and help them with their tasks, so there is a major difference between therapy and service dogs.

People often need some therapy to recover, which can prove boring and repetitive. A therapy dog can provide some excitement in their daily routine that will improve their situation. It's been known to make people less lonely or depressed as well. It can distract them from darker thoughts that they might have.

A therapy dog can also make patients be more responsive, getting them out of their routine, making them less passive. Try to put yourself in the place of a bored patient, that suffers from pain, and imagine what a joy would a dog bring you, if he came to interrupt your boring routine.

There isn't a huge demand for therapy dog training, but it's been used for quite some time now in the treatment of patients.

About The Author:
Visit DoggyBehave.Com for more dog training tips and dog training guides.

Posted on February 9, 2009 by Sam Nichols | Posted under Pets

Things to Consider before You Go for a Dog Training Career

While a lot of people will become dog training careers because it's something that a lot of people do, there are others who actually do it because they love dogs and feel that this is a career that they want to pursue.

Are you one of those people that go for a dog training career because they heard someone saying that it's a good career, or are you someone that actually loves dogs and wants to be around them more?

Basic principles to follow

Loving dogs isn't the only motivation you should have to pursue dog training; you will also need the skills and knowledge to discipline dogs, to handle them and to understand what motivates their behavior. In most cases, people that become dog trainers have previous experience with dogs, and an understanding on how they usually handle pets.

What is your "dog division"?

If you want a career that revolves around dogs, there are two options at your disposal: dog training or pet service training. They're both highly looked after jobs, but a pet dog training career can bring you more opportunities.

Pet dog training is usually done on pet dogs, just like the name suggests. Its purpose is to help dogs become better companions for humans, both at house and in outdoor activities. Basic training includes agility training, obedience training, potty training and even training to prevent the dog from biting or barking.

If we're talking about service training, you should know that it's made specifically to prepare a dog for helping someone that has a disability or is going through some form of therapy. Other service dogs are trained to sniff bombs, drugs or to chase criminals, hunt or rescue people.

This type of training is very intensive, and the trainer needs to be well prepared in teaching the dog how to do his functions.

Canine psychology understanding

What do you want to know about a dog? How they behave, think or how they react to outside stimulus? What training actually does is making a dog modify his behavior, so they respond in certain ways. Associative conditioning is one of the fundamentals of dog training, so you should know this as well.

What about dog training education?

Like any other career, dog training needs you to have some basic skills, in this case in the area of handling and dog training. But, this isn't a career that you can learn at a university or college, so a degree is out of the question. There are schools however, and some academies, which you can go to in order to learn dog training. In most cases though, dog trainers have a natural inclination for their job.

While some have a natural feeling on how to train dogs, other have been apprentices with great dog trainers. And if you want some extra information, you should contact a dog training organization, which can offer it to you.

Comparison of working attitude with people and dogs

When you train dogs you also have to teach the dog handlers how to use them. Besides training dogs, if you plan to make a career out of it, you will also need to have some people skills, to teach the handlers.

Some dog owners don't have the patience to wait for their dogs to learn, expecting for it to be a fast and simple process. You need to be able to deal with this type of dog owners, and to let them know how the process works. That's why you need people skills as well, not just experience with dogs.

Miscellaneous

Besides the normal aspects of training, other things you need to know are nutrition, dog hygiene and grooming.

Other fields of interest include accessories, dog competitions and training ads. You should also learn about the differences between dog breeds, as each one behaves differently.

You can be a great trainer without being a guru. You only need a number of skills that will teach you how to handle dogs.

About The Author:
Visit DoggyBehave.Com for more dog training articles . Read also our SitStayFetch review รข€“ dog training book written by professional dog trainer Daniel Stevens.

Posted on February 1, 2009 by Sam Nichols | Posted under Pets Dogs

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Training Your Dog the Right Way

A lot of dog owners want to train their dogs either for housebreaking or competition purposes. There are many advantages to training your dog. Well trained dogs are easier to take care of. And you can also use the pet for several purposes other than merely making it your best friend. If you train your dog right, you will be able to use your pet as a guard dog, a helper, or even a sled runner, if you must.

Here are tips when training your dog:

1. Establish a good dog-owner relationship with your pet.

You have to establish trust with your pet. Only through this you will be able to teach your dog some tricks. Don't worry. Dogs are naturally trusting animals, especially if their masters are good to them. It is quite easy to establish trust with your pet. You just have to feed it right, give it treats, and play with it from time to time.

2. Build confidence and control.

Control is very important. Control means directing your dog to do the things it is supposed to do and make it stop doing things it shouldn't. You can control your dog with the use of strict words. Strict doesn't mean harsh. Know the difference between the two. When you give commands to your pet, be sure that you're firm enough and stand by it.

3. Make your dog happy and outgoing.

A happy dog is a lot easier to train. It is the same with people. If you're in a good mood, you are more likely to do things right. The disposition is the same with your pet. Strive to keep your dog happy so that any day becomes a good day for training. An outgoing dog is a free-spirited dog. These are the dogs that can be ideally trained.

4. Know your dog's natural drives.

Your dog has its own natural pleasure and drives. Make sure that you know what these are so you can use it to your advantage. Dogs can easily be trained if you use their natural instincts. With the right motivation, the entire dog training process can be a jiffy.

5. Don't use cruelty when training.

Cruelty doesn't work well with pets. Never use harsh punishments or cruelty when teaching your dog anything. Dogs would trust you less if you hurt it. This won't help you at all. It is best that you use firm but doting words instead. Dogs would easily be trained if it is not subjected to harsh elements.

Training your dog is quite a job. Keep in mind that everything can't be achieved overnight. It can't even be done in a week either. You have to be very patient. This means that you have to know your dog's limit. This way, you'll be able to groom and train your pet in the right manner. There would be trial and errors in the whole process. Be sure that you are mentally and physically fit for the challenge.

About The Author:
Visit DoggyBehave.Com for more dog behavior training tips and dog training articles.


Posted on February 1, 2009 by Sam Nichols | Posted under Pets Dogs

What Trainings Are Involved in Rescue Dog Training

There are plenty of reasons why dogs are considered best friends of men, and one of these reasons is their usefulness in emergency situations. Just like it happens with agility and obedience training, rescue dog training requires for a few principles to be observed.

Training Their Obedience

One trait of rescue dogs is constant obedience since they can't do their jobs if they don't do as they're told. They should be used to obey commands like sit, heel, stay, come and jog exercises. All these should be met, so their handlers can be sure that their commands will be respected when it's needed.

Training Their Agility

Not just sports dogs need to be agile, but also dogs that are trained to rescue other people. At its most basic level, rescue dogs will be helped by agility training at the physical level, letting them do even the hardest tasks. This can come in handy when they're rescuing people. If they're trained by someone that knows their job, a dog that goes through agility training will be able to surpass many obstacles that he might encounter.

Retrieving

Retrieving is a huge part of any rescue operation. A dog needs to be able to retrieve either items or even a person from a place where other people can't go in. If you want a dog to be able to retrieve a person, he will need to go through retrieving exercises. He will learn how to retrieve anything, from leather, to wood or even an injured person, all by using the command "fetch".

Training On The Right Positioning

One part of rescue training teaches the dog how to adapt to different exercises, and that part is positioning. Positioning training is achieved both with compulsive and inductive training.

Positioning training should be something that is taught from the time that he's still a puppy. He needs to learn to types of positioning: the front position and the heel. The heel position teaches the dog to stand near the trainer, parallel to his left foot. The front position teaches him to sit in front of the trainer, aligned with the front legs of the trainer.

You can teach a dog to adopt the right position in two ways. The inductive and the compulsive method.

The compulsive way, when used to train the dog how to adopt the front position will teach him how to sit in the front of the handler. If you use it together with an order like "sit", the same principle is used - the owner needs to help the pet stand, then sit in front of him. The position needs to be parallel to the owner's left foot if he asks for the heel position.

If we're talking about the inductive method, it will need the use of food or treats to teach the dog how to respond to the owner's commands to assume one of the two positions. One example of the inductive method is offering the pet a treat before you give him an order. If he accepts the treat, give him an order like sit, come or down right before giving him the treat. Remember, offer it, but give it only after the does the command.

If you're using the compulsive method, you might use some physical guidance, but you should never use it in a way that might injure the dog. Don't make it harsh, use it gently and firmly. If you're harsh, that could harm the training.

If you're training a rescue dog, you should know that it's not a single thing they need to learn. It's a mix of different commands and abilities that they need to learn.

About The Author:
Visit DoggyBehave.Com for more dog obedience training articles and dog obedience training tips.

Posted on February 9, 2009 by Sam Nichols | Posted under Pets Dogs

Dog Training Equipment and Tools

There are some tools that every trainer needs to do his job. There are a number of purposes that dog training equipment has, but in general it has specific functions to make the dog perform certain things, to get control over him or to train him faster.

1. Collar

Besides using normal training aids, a dog trainer will also use collars in the training process. There are a wide variety of types of collars, sorted by appeal, materials or their functions. If we're talking about classification by functions, collars can be spoke collars, chain collars, electronic collars, martingale collars or shock collars.

Usually, dog collars are made of nylon, leather, metal or fabric materials.

2. Harness

Something that can be used as a leash alternative, a harness is a device used for training, either replacing a dog collar or using it together with one. A harness can be used so that the pulling force is distributed more equally, so that the dog doesn't choke. A collar also brings with it the risk that the dog will slip out of it.

Dog harnesses aren't used to train a normal dog though. They're usually preferred when it comes to training assistant dogs or service dogs.

3. Leash or lead

The lead, or leash, is made usually out of rope or leather, which helps restrain or control the dog when it's attached to the collar. Some leashes are made so that they loop around the dog's neck, so the collar isn't needed. The length can also be a way to choose a leash: it can be short, very short, extended webbing leash or webbing leash.

The length matters because different training exercises will require leashes of different sizes, keeping the dog at a distance or close to you. Use long leashes for distance training or tight leashes for the best control.

4. Muzzle

If the dog has the habit of barking or biting, and you want him to stop doing it, you can use a dog muzzle. This dog equipment is very important, especially for dangerous or aggressive dogs that you want to prevent from doing any damage.

You place the muzzle on the dog's mouth, so he can't open it and bite with it. You can use dog muzzle to vary how much freedom the dog has. You can also choose one depending on its shape or material. Materials used for dog muzzles can include leather, wire, nylon or plastic.

5. Bait Pouch

The bait pouch is putting a dog treat in your pocket, and it's a method that many dog trainers use. There is a disadvantage to that though, the fact that if you take some extra time to get the reward, the purpose of giving the dog a reward is a bit lost on him.

It's recommended to buy a special bait pouch if you want to use one for training. It's just like a normal pouch, but made from canvas. It's kept at the trainer's waist, so that he can access it easily.

6. Halter

The halter is a training gear similar to a collar, and it's used by trainers to guide or train pets, making it easier to control it. It goes over the dog's muzzle and fitted to the back of his head. By pulling the head, the trainer signals the dog to change his direction.

There are plenty of types of dog training equipment, by name, construction or purpose. You can't do everything with just one type of equipment. Decide what you want it to do before you buy it.

About The Author:
Visit DoggyBehave.Com for more dog behavior training tips, articles and dog training questions and answers.

Posted on February 1, 2009 by Sam Nichols | Posted under Pets Dogs

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

How To Use Dog Training Treats To Make Him Learn

There are a number of methods that you can use to do dog training. Some ways need for the dog's owner to be able to use harmful treatments, while other methods ask for their patience and commitment. If you want to train a dog in the safest and most reasonable way, you should use treats, just like the professionals say you should.

You can use the treats to give him either punishments or rewards, so that he can learn his lesson. If he follows the command correctly or he behaves like he should, you can give him a treat, so he knows that he did the right thing. If he doesn't follow the command or doesn't behave like he should, you can refuse him the treat, and that would be the punishment. Keep using punishments and rewards until he learns to do the right thing so he can get his treat.

Uses

There are a number of uses that dog treats can be used for:

• Teach the dog to do what he is ordered, so he can get his treat.
• Encourage him to be obedient to you, to have an active attitude and to be interested in the treat he will get if he behaves as he should.
• Besides giving him treats, you can also praise him when he does well, which makes the training process easier.
• It can be a representation of the fact that he pleased you with his actions.
• Dog treats will work usually for dogs, even if praising doesn't do much.

When to offer them treats

If you want to use dog training treats, you should give it to them right after he executes a command correctly or behaves the way he should be. Treats and praises should be automatically connected to the way he behaves. Giving him too many treats can make him dependent on getting them.

Treats should be used only during the initial training phase, when he is learning. If he's not training, you shouldn't give him the same treats that he receives when he learns.

If you're looking to make him learn a command like "down", the treat you're giving him should be put on his nose, and brought down, as well as telling him the "down" command at the same time.

If he executes the command as he should, you can reward him with the treat, and also encourage him with words or with a pat. Keep doing the same thing until he knows when he gets the treat and what he needs to do in order to receive it.

In time, as he learns more, you can use patting and praising instead of dog treats. In training, the goal is to teach him to do as you order him. You can still give him dog treats from time to time, but it would be better to keep them hidden, since he should follow orders even if you don't have a treat with you.

Types

There are dog training treats that are simple, just like cookies, which you can use to reward the dog. You can even use treats that help his digestion, boost his health or cleans the dog's teeth.

Buying dog treats

You can buy the dog treats from groceries, food stores, pet shops, specialty stores or even online. The price of dog treats can vary, from $5 to $30. Since their prices can be considerable, you can also find discounts, if you buy in bulk.

Another option would be to prepare it yourself, at home, using books or recipes found online.

About The Author:
Visit DoggyBehave.Com for more puppy training tips and dog training articles.

Posted on February 9, 2009 by Sam Nichols | Posted under Pets Dogs

Hunting Dog Training – Some Things to Consider

When people hunt small prey, they usually use hunting dogs to bring their kills. If hunting dogs didn't exist, hunters would need to go find the prey they hit on their own, losing time. A hunting dog that is trained properly will reduce the amount of useless work that the hunter needs to do.

But, you can't just train any dog to help with hunting. There are special breeds designed to perform best in the conditions that hunting requires.

But, you can't find a hunting dog like you would any other normal dog breed. These dogs are well trained to be able to meet the requirements of hunting. The training process for a hunting dog is usually a long one, that needs the trainer to be patient and to know how to work with the dog. As for the dog, he needs to have the right attributes to become a proper hunting dog.

Choosing the right breed

As I said before, you can't use just any type of dog to train for hunting. You should work with a dog breed that is specially designed for this, and that has a history of serving men in this capacity. You need a dog breed that is made to do this kind of job.

Some of the dog breeds that are well suited to be hunters include pointers, spaniels and retrievers. Each of these three have their own traits that are unique to them. Once you choose such a dog, the trainer needs to make the most out of their unique traits.

One trait that all hunting dogs have is a great sense of smell. This helps them track the prey in the field. Another trait is that they're adapted to outdoor life and can be easily trained. If you want the best possible hunting dog, choose a breed that meets all the requirements. In most cases, people choose Beagles, Dachshunds, Bloodhounds or Labradors as hunting dogs.

What dog to choose?

If you want to train a dog to hunt, you shouldn't choose one that is already fully grown. You should go with a puppy, since his behavior isn't formed yet and he can be trained easily. The second requirement would be for the dog to have some affinity to the handler. You can't expect for that affinity to form alone. This is why you should train the dog personally, or at least assist the trainer with it.

What does training usually entail?

A hunting dog needs to be able to master these six tasks:

a) Quartering
b) Retrieving
c) Steadying
d) Marking
e) Shaking
f) Following hand signals

What about scent and gun fire?

Some dogs will be scared when they hear gun fire. So they need to be specially trained to get used to it. Usually, this is done by conditioning the dog, by getting him used both with game birds and gun fire.

Game birds will be associated this way with gun fire. When he will hear it in the future, he will know that when the hunter shoots, he needs to look for the bird. After they get the prey, they will expect to hear the gun fire again.

One thing you should do when training the dog, is getting him used to a certain scent, depending on what you want to hunt with him. If you're looking to hunt boar, than he should know the boar scent, so he can track it.

It's much harder to do dog training than it is to train them in other areas. But, if you're a true hunter, you will need a great dog to assist you.

About The Author:
Visit DoggyBehave.Com for more dog obedience training tips and dog training articles.

Posted on February 9, 2009 by Sam Nichols | Posted under Pets Dogs

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Service Dog Training: How to Prepare Your Dog

Assistance dogs come in a variety of types: guiding dogs, hearing dogs and service dogs. At their core, all trainings aim to do the same thing: train a dog to help people that can't do their daily tasks properly because they have some disabilities. Such dogs will help people that have problems with their sight or hearing.

Other uses for service dogs include mobility assistance and seizure response training, but it depends on what the owner needs from the dog. If you do need this type of training, the dog needs to be trained for it properly.

TRAINING

Self-training and program training are two of the types of training that service dogs need to go through.

The owner needs to facilitate self-training, and the same goes for any type of dog training. Getting a professional trainer that knows what he's doing is much easier, but self training can boost the relationship between the dog and his owner.

Both young and old dogs can potentially be good for service. In some cases, people will want their older dogs to be trained, especially in cases where the dog showed that he is suited for it. But, in most cases, people will want to use pets from dog breeds that are designed for service work from the start.

There are a number of procedures and techniques that people can use to teach a dog how to be useful for people with disabilities. You can look for tips online or you could buy books that teach you the process of service dog training. Another option is to hire a professional take care of your dog, to make sure he gets the best training possible.

While the dog would learn what he needs to do faster, since these professionals have very good training techniques, the problem is that once the dog is sent back home, the training is stopped, unless the owners how to continue it themselves. If the dog is home trained however, the training can continue.

If a breeder sells a dog that will be trained to service, he should first teach the dog basic orders, like come, sit, no and stay. Next, the owner needs to teach the dog other orders, like how he can turn off lights or open a door. Remember, this dog needs to help people with disabilities, so he needs to do a number of things for them.

Service works is what these dogs are bred and trained to do. It can take more than a year to teach such a dog what he needs to do in any kind of situation. They also should be trained on dealing with the people that they will serve.

You can train these dogs in a variety of ways. For example, training done by prison inmates is an option in the United States. It's a method that worked well in the past, with both the dogs and the inmates benefitting from this situation. The inmates for example, learn to socialize better by training the dogs.

If someone needs a service dog, they first need to go through an evaluation process, after they fill in an application. Next, he will be put on a list, waiting for a dog that will fill the needs that he has. In most cases, you don't need to pay anything for getting a dog if you need it, but in others you will have to pay something in order to get it.

After the owner gets the service dog, he will have to learn how to deal with him and how to train him further, to do the things he needs done. This period can vary, from just a few weeks to months in some cases. After that, a period follows where the training is updated at the training center.

These dogs aren't trained just to help people to open doors or to do other things that owners can't do. They're also there to be good companions and to offer emotional support.

About The Author:
Visit DoggyBehave.Com for more puppy training tips and dog training books.

Posted on February 9, 2009 by Sam Nichols | Posted under Pets Dogs

Basic Bird Dog Training Commands and Tips

It often surprises us when we see well trained bird dogs in action. Obeying the commands of their owners, bird dogs do their work in an exemplary manner. We often wonder how bird dog training can produce such results, getting the dogs to be so cooperative.

If you put a lot of work in it, it can be done.

There are a number of dog breeds that are well suited for becoming great bird dogs. A good start would be teaching them to obey your commands. Before dogs can understand what people are telling them, they need to learn the language first. In this basic variant of training, dogs need to understand the three main commands: รข€ล“come!รข€�, รข€ล“whoa!รข€� and รข€ล“heel!รข€�. These commands need to be mastered by the owner as well.

The รข€ล“Whoa!รข€� Command

The รข€ล“whoa!รข€� command is the first thing bird dogs need to learn. By learning this, they can understand when they're being told to stop, without moving again unless he's being ordered to do it. Obeying this command shows that the dog respects his master and that he is obedient. If you want to test whether a dog is completely obedient, you should try giving the รข€ล“whoa!รข€� order at larger distances. This way you're sure that he will listen to you even when the command is not enforced by the immediate presence of the master.

You can also use the รข€ล“whoa!รข€� command to control dogs that get out of hand, trying to flush a bird on their own or play with it. If their master wants the dog to stop what he's doing, he can use this command to make him stop. Ideally, the command and the obedience should be rewarded by the master.

The รข€ล“Come!รข€� Command

The purpose of the รข€ล“come!รข€� command is to make the dog come to the owner when they hear it. It's quite easy to use this command. In the case of a bird dog, it's much easier to make him come to you with the thing he retrieved, if he understands this command. A lot of dogs are more independent and go do their own thing. Using the รข€ล“come!รข€� command you can keep him at a good distance from you.

The รข€ล“Heel!รข€� Command

When you want to make sure that your dog will walk by your side, and not wander away, the รข€ล“heel!รข€� command can be used to get this effect. You can teach him an additional command, like "go" or "okay" to let him know that he is released, and can return to hunting with you.

Whenever the dog performed well, never fail to give him a tap, a treat or a praise to acknowledge his performance. Fine dogs are born with the instinct to please their owners. If you can let your dog see that he is pleasing you with his performance and you want him to repeat it, the best thing you can do is to reward him. Overtime, he will learn to repeat the same desirable action so long as you allow him to.

Each time the dog does what you ask of him, make sure you reward him either with a treat, a tap or a praise, to let him know that he did well. The best dogs are those that have an instinct when it comes to pleasing their masters. You should let the dog know that you are pleased with what he's doing, and that he should do the same in the future. The best way you can let him know is by rewarding him.

Doing bird dog training is quite hard. If it was easy, you would see a lot more bird dogs around. Still, if you want to make a good bird hunter out of your dog, make sure you invest the patience and the time needed to teach him the three commands that stand at the basis of bird dog training.

About The Author:
Visit DoggyBehave.Com for more dog behavior training articles and dog training books.

Posted on February 1, 2009 by Sam Nichols | Posted under Pets Dogs

The Three Main Principles of Dog Obedience Training

Dogs will always need obedience training, at least at a basic level. This is true even if the breed is well designed to fit the needs that humans have. You need a minimum level of obedience training because you can't expect them to learn what you want on their own. There are some principles behind obedience training that insure that you get the results that you're going after.

Principle One: YOU SHOULD BE CONSISTENT

Consistency is an important part of obedience training, probably the most important. You should be consistent in the actions that you use together with commands or words, and you should also use a consistent tone and words when you talk with him. When you start the obedience training, you should decide what parameters you are going to use and what do you want the dog to learn.

Just saying a command, like "come" doesn't mean that the dog will understand it. Obviously, a dog can't understand out language or thing in the same way that people do. Using the same command on a regular basis and consistently, makes sure that in time he will associate the meaning with the word you're using for it.

In the example I gave before, for the "come" command, everyone in the house should use the word in its singular form. He needs to understand that "come" means that he needs to approach the person that gives him the command. When you give him the command "come", you should not be doing anything that will confuse him in regards to its meaning.

If he doesn't obey the command, you shouldn't force him to do it, and then punish him for coming to you. This way, the dog will associate the punishment with the command. Since he thinks that this command will bring him a punishment, the dog will not obey it in the future.

That's why it's important that everyone that deals with the dog uses the same form of the command. A good example that you see in everyday life is the substitution of the "come" command with words like "come here boy" or "here".

Principle Two: YOU SHOULD KEEP IT SHORT

You should keep both the command words and the training sessions short. Dogs don't have the biggest attention span in the world, and training sessions aren't exactly activities that can keep them interested for very long. In the case of puppies, a stimulus that will keep them interested is a moving toy car that they can follow, and once they lose interest in it they would do something else.

The interest they had in the beginning isn't the same as it will be a few minutes later, so they get bored quite easily. 10-15 minutes of training should be enough for each obedience training session.

Principle Three: YOU SHOULDN'T PUNISH YOUR DOG

If you want to train a dog to listen to you, punishment isn't an option. Forcing a dog to obey the commands you give him if he isn't prepared is also not an option.

During training, don't push the dog too far. Since he thinks he's playing, he's not prone to learning things right then, just by hearing a command only once. He will only see that you're upset at him, but he will not understand that you want a faster progress.

Negative reinforcement is a much better choice for training, since force will not bring your point across as it should. Praise him when he does something you want, and don't do it when a command isn't followed.

About The Author:
Visit DoggyBehave.Com for more dog training tips, articles and dog training books.

Posted on February 1, 2009 by Sam Nichols | Posted under Pets Dogs

Monday, May 25, 2009

How to Start Training a Dog for Agility

You should start training your dog for agility while he is a puppy. But, it's possible to do it even if the dog is older. Getting your dog started with training should be done once you know if he isn't too old for it.

Knowing the age of the dog isn't enough to decide if he is too old. If he is still able to do it, the training age can vary from one breed to another. It depends on what his natural tendencies are, so there isn't one single age that you can use to decide on this matter.

But, even if older dogs can be trained, the process is much easier if the dog is still young. That's because he hasn't developed the habits and they aren't yet rooted in him.

If you do need to train an older dog, don't go into it thinking that he can't learn anything. Both the trainer and the dog should go into it fully committed. If the owner is patient enough and dedicated to agility training, the dog will learn much faster.

You can pick one of several methods to start the agility training. Some of them are presented below:

Physical exercise

Physical exercises should be the first things when starting agility training. If the trainer is interested in training the dog properly, age should be of no importance as long as the dog's condition is good. You can do some basic exercises with him, like hopping or jumping, to make him move a bit. If the dog is still a puppy, he can exercise much easier, because of the extra energy he has.

Allow him to play around

Just like you would teach a kid, if you make an exercise appear like a game, he's more likely to learn whatever you want to teach him. Puppies can generally go through chutes and tunnels, so you can easily introduce obstacles and tunnels into the exercise. You can turn the training area into a play ground where he can learn and have fun at the same time.

The puppy will be better prepared for agility training if you use this method to prepare him for what comes next.

Encourage his agility

If the training area is too small to put up obstacle courses, you can still use a number of different games to make him more agile. The training can be improved by using improvised walls and tunnels.

Keep it short

While dogs aren't as enthusiast as people about doing different activities, they do want to please their masters. You can't get them to continue the training if you don't give him a reason to like it. You can encourage him by giving him treats, patting him or praising, which should keep his attention to the exercise. Still, you shouldn't do very long training sessions.

One good rule to follow when you want to do agility training is not to do long lessons. It's better to keep them short. You can't teach him everything in only one lesson, so keep the training sessions short. This way he can understand everything without being overwhelmed with information. One tip is to finish each exercise with a praise, so always end it when he does something right.

It doesn't matter how young or old the dog is if the objective is agility training. It's all about how well he responds, if he wants to obey your commands or how willing he is to work on his own. It also matters if the trainer has enough patience with him.

About The Author:
Visit DoggyBehave.Com for more dog training articles and dog training tips.

Posted on February 9, 2009 by Sam Nichols | Posted under Pets Dogs

Effective Tips In Training Boxer Dogs

Being energetic and highly intelligent, training Boxer dogs is somewhat a challenge especially to inexperienced dog owners. Boxer dogs think independently and tend to follow their own will thus making the training challenging yet rewarding. Dog owners must be armed with proper and effective training tips and tools in order to successfully train their Boxer dogs. Below are some of the training tips I find effective in training a Boxer dog.

Start early

Start training when your Boxer is still a puppy. Start socializing your puppy in an early as three weeks old. Basic commands such as sit, down, come and fetch should be trained to puppies eight weeks of age.

Training should be fun!

Include lots of praise, treats and anything that will make training fun for your dog. Puppies have short attention span so keep training sessions short and enjoyable. Training sessions should last approximately 10-15 minutes with breaks in between sessions.

Avoid force or violence

Avoid training based on physical punishment. Punishing your dog either physically or verbally may end the undesirable behavior but inappropriate use of this training method may lead to a loss of enthusiasm in training, stress and even aggression.

Vaccines are important

Make sure that your puppy is vaccinated before sending him to a formal training school. Vaccination will prevent him from various diseases that he may acquire from kennels or pet stores during training.

Communicate with your dog

Communication plays an important role in training a dog that is why you must always understand what your dog is trying to tell you. Through body language, you can tell that your dog is happy, confused, nervous, excited, scared and so on. A stressed or distracted dog will not learn efficiently so set aside training for the moment if you think that your dog is not in the mood for training.

Suitable training method

Find which among the training methods is suited for your dog. Positive reinforcement training method is one of the widely used training methods. In this method, something is added in the situation to increase the chance of exhibiting the behavior again. Positive training includes clicker training, toys, treats, praise or play. If your dog does not respond well to positive training, you can use fear training method or training based on corrections. These training methods can be combined if necessary using positive training predominantly and occasionally incorporating fear training.

Use training tools

There are various tools to aid you in training your dog. This includes leash, different types of collars, crate and others. Choose which is appropriate for your dog and best suits the lesson or trick you are going to teach. Just remember to use these tools properly because misuse may lead to accidents that could injure or worst, kill your dog.

About The Author:
Richard Cussons has written various articles on dogs. Visit boxersavvy.com for great information about Boxer dogs and effective Boxer dog training tips.

Posted on May 18, 2008 by Richard Cussons | Posted under Pets Dogs

Sunday, May 24, 2009

A Must Read Dog Whistle Command Tips}-00-545

Firstly, bear in mind that if your dog feels happy with you it will quickly answer to your call whether you use whistle or voice. Do not ever punish him or complain of what he has done wrong as he answers your call. If you do that, he will form the feeling that answering to your whistle recall command could mean being beaten or rebuked. Be nice to him each time he obeys your recall command.

To make your dog leave whatever it is engaged in and run back to you whenever you call is successful dog obedience. Though, this can only happen if you make him feel that it is a good thing to answer you quickly each time you call. Dogs are reasonable animals, your dog wants to be certain that whatever move it makes is beneficial.

It is not as difficult as it seems to teach your dog whistle recall commands. It really is easy if you turn your recalls into good experiences for him. Listen; don't let your dog think that you call him to be punished. If that happens he would come hesitantly or not come at all. Your dog is always looking out for your disposition - both your tone of voice and countenance has great effects on his behavior.

It is a very good training method to always let your dog know that you appreciate that he answers your call quickly. Let him see your happiness through your body movements like milling and wiggling your body etc. Remember that whistles deliver higher pitches than your voice so do not over blow it when calling him to return, ensure that your call does not sound threatening.

When training your dog to learn the recall commands with the whistle, sit him at a distance and use the whistle to call him back to you. Start with short distances, increase the distances as he begins to respond to your recall. It is experts' opinion that dogs obey better when seated, so have him sited when teaching him each new command.

Finally, all I have been hitting at is that in teaching your dog distance recall with a whistle it is very vital that a cordial relationship exist between the two of you, if not, he could even take off from the distance. Nevertheless, recognize the possibility that success in dog training may not come as fast as you may anticipate, but relentless effort and consistency of commands will sooner than latter reward you with success.

About The Author:
All Dog Training Tips and Bark Collar Dog Training 20. More information is availabel via the above links.

Posted on November 7, 2008 by AnthonyMaxwellpapp | Posted under Pets Dogs

Hunting dogs - Basic Training Tips

Even if you were an avid hunter, there would have been many instances of misfiring and even if you have aimed right you would not have fetched the hunt for obvious reason that you could not track it.

Should you be carrying a hunting dog with you, this would not have been the result because a hunting dog would simplify your job whilst not cutting any frills on the thrills you maybe experiencing while on a hunting expedition per se.

Be it a small game of hunting a lakeside duck or a countryside turkey to a big game of hunting an elk or a buck, a hunting dog can smell blood in a jiffy and would take you to the target. With this snap shot of a hunting dog, you need to know that a great hunting dog is not available in a nearby canine store or even an online store. All you need to know is that you should train your canine to make one great hunting dog. And, no means this training is easy and to get desired results, you need to know some tips and probably you can tame even a hardheaded canine.

Picking the right breed for hunting

Remember that a show-style breed is far different from a hunting dog. The first and foremost quality is a breed that has a good sense of smelling. You can look at those that are tamable as well as those that can endure long outdoor activities; in fact, the breed should love to stay more of outdoors. They must obviously possess decent stamina and built.

Hunting dog example breeds include the bloodhounds, dachshunds, basset hounds, German pointers, Labradors, beagles, mountain curs, feists. Know some characters of the breed and check if their temperament suits yours even to tame.

Bring the canine when it's very young.

Yes, for the reason that it will have time to bond with you and follow your communication.

Time and patience.

Time needed to train a hunting dog is far greater than training a canine for other jobs, and it calls for good patience on the part of master.

Condition the canine.

Train your canine to be resilient when faced with adversities of outdoors. And for this take him out more frequently and allow it to freak around the areas under your vigilance. This will be perfect priming for your canine before the game of hunting begins.

Take him out more often, say at least once a week and see that you are supplying him with adequate nutrition for this extra exercise as well as normal development. Give him good quantities of water so he is not dehydrated.

Train him to chase a target or follow a trail.

Use dummy rabbits or fowls to tease the canine and allow him to learn chasing the target and teach him to bring the target to you. Use a whistle as an indication of command and let him get used to your commands. Teach him to focus even when there are disturbances around. You may simulate a noisy surrounding yet command him to chase a target or follow a trail. However, this can be done during advanced training and not at pup stage.

Training as fun.

Most important is to make your training as much fun as possible. Reward your canine for any signs of excelling in the training and he should find it interesting and exciting.

And, remember that if you have trained your dog properly, he will never like to eat the hunted animal but will love to return to his master.

About The Author:
Visit us at DoggyBehave.Com for more dog training articles and dog training tips

Posted on December 31, 2008 by Sam Nichols | Posted under Pets Dogs

Saturday, May 23, 2009

Tips on How to Crate Train Your Dog the Right Way

Once your dog is used with the crate, you should lock the dog inside. You can go away for a bit and watch from a distance to see how he calms down. If you see him protest, keep him inside until he calms down. Let him go only when he does. If you do this for a few days, he should be learning to enter and exit the crate on his own.

Some people don't like crate training because they think that it resembles solitary confinement. But, if you read some of the benefits listed here, and those that are not mentioned and you might find on your own, you can easily reach the same conclusion I did, that a crate is good both for the dog and his owner.

If you train dogs or puppies enough, you can make them love it, and not consider it a place that they want to avoid. If they're not trained, they can feel lonely and unsafe in this environment.

Crate or den training is done because dogs need a feeling of security, a place of nesting, where there aren't any distractions. Such a home can be a den. If the right techniques are used and it's introduced properly, crate training can be OK for dogs, and they will not consider it a punishment.

1. Benefits of using a crate.

a) When you want to be sure that your dog isn't running around on his own, and you need him to stay put, you can use a crate to control him.
b) If they're in a place where they feel vulnerable, a crate will provide them a safe haven.
c) A crate can be a place to rest and relax for the dog, where he can't be distracted or bothered.
d) You can use the crate to make sure that dogs with behavioral problems are kept under control.
e) If your dog is untrained, you can keep him under control, so he doesn't bite your guests or cause any accidents.
f) If your dog has separation anxiety a crate can help him.
g) If you need to take the dog out, a crate can keep him secure.
h) His confidence is boosted because he is more secure.
i) Can help the dog with their training, since it can be a direction for their activities.

2. Size of the crate.

You should choose a crate that allows the dog to stand up on all fours, where he can lie down or turn around without the walls being in the way. If you also want to use the crate to travel with your dog, you should pick a larger one.

If training is the only reason why you use the crate, you should still pick one that follows the rules I talked about before. Using a big crate will allow the dog to do things that are unwanted in an area of the crate where they don't have to sit.

3. How to introduce the crate to the dog.

Introducing the crate to the dog should be done when you're comfortable with the idea. First, choose a crate that is appropriate. Second, put it in the house, in a place where the dog can notice it. In the beginning, remove the door from the crate, so the dog can explore it for a week or so.

If he doesn't seem interested in the crate, you can leave some food inside, to get his attention. After a few days pass, you can try giving him food inside. This way, he will learn that the crate is his and he can enter it safely.

About The Author:
Visit DoggyBehave.Com for more dog training tips, articles and dog training book.

Posted on February 1, 2009 by Sam Nichols | Posted under Pets Dogs

Breakthrough Dog Training Tips You Will Love

Dogs are worthless training material during the neonate period because of their underdeveloped learning capacities. The best time to train a puppy is usually between three and four months after its birth when its learning capacity has fully developed. The puppy of a docile litter is usually teachable and submissive by nature.

A vital part of dog training is house training. You need to train your dog to take care of its bodily functions. The fact of the matter is there really isn't any right or wrong way to get your dog potty trained because you can come up with your own style.

In training your dog, you should use consistent commands in order not to confuse it. Dogs that get used to a particular command in a certain context are unable to respond to the same command in a different context. You should be consistent in your tone when training your dog in order to avoid confusing it.

Herding dogs are born with the instinct to herd. Herding dogs are usually used in farms and the countryside to herd cattle or sheep. Basically most owners of herding dogs use audible command tools to train their dogs because of the nature of the herding job.

Shouting on your dog won't do it any good. When you issue out commands in an angry voice, your dog will be hesitant about obeying them because it is unsure about how you will react. To successfully train your dog, don't nag it to death!

Dogs that have an unceasing barking problem can be calmed with a dog toy. In selecting a chew toy for your dog, make sure that you select the right one that fits the problem. Dogs by nature are easily preoccupied with new things therefore a dog toy can work wonderfully well in distracting it from chewing out your furniture.

A dog that barks all the time needs to be trained. You can train a dog that barks incessantly using a crate for punishment. Some dog owners choose to train their barking dogs with an electronic collar because it curbs their dog's need to bark through the emission of electrical impulses.

Training your dog is a process that continues for life. Training your dog does not stop the instant it masters all the command messages. You need to constantly train your dog to ensure that it stays on the right track.

About The Author:
To learn essential tips regarding information about Guard Dog Training Santa Fe Nm , read this site ==> http://www.dogtrainingzilla.com

Posted on November 7, 2008 by JohnJames | Posted under Pets Dogs

Friday, May 22, 2009

Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog Dog Training Tips

All types of dogs, including your Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog, can benefit from dog training. Jumping, aggression, and all types of obedience can be learned by your Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog. Training courses and products are available at retail stores, while online dog training information can be accessed immediately.

Your Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog is instinctively aggressive. In the wild, dogs need to be aggressive in order to successfully hunt for food, to continually defend against other creatures, and to protect their food, bed, and mate. Even though this aggressive trait has been minimized over time by selective breeding, we all realize that dogs are instinctively aggressive.

The good news is you can learn to recognize, prevent, and handle dog aggression.

Dogs most commonly exhibit aggression toward one of 2 groups:

1...strangers

2...family members

Each type of aggression requires different intervention because each stems from a different cause.

If your Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog is aggressive toward STRANGERS, it might be because he has not had a real opportunity to interact with strangers. Your dog relies on you to help him learn about the world. You need to take your Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog on plenty of trips outside of your home to help him become comfortable in different surroundings with different animals and people.

This process (called "socialization") helps to prevent aggression toward strangers by allowing your dog to learn through experience that he does not need to be afraid of new sights, sounds, and smells. You'll want to start this process slowly so your Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog does not become overwhelmed. Over time, both of you will look forward this socialization process, while eliminating or reducing your dog's aggression toward strangers.

The most common cause of aggression toward FAMILY MEMBERS is known as "resource guarding." Your Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog tries to defend his possessions from someone he perceives as a threat. This overly possessive behavior results from the issue of dominance.

Dogs are inherently pack animals. A pack is a very structured environment. Every dog in a pack is aware of the hierarchy or rank of every other dog in the pack. Your Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog views the family environment the same as a dog pack environment.

You can change your dog's dominant, aggressive behavior through frequent and consistent obedience training to establish your authority over your Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog. Try conducting two 15-minute sessions each day to help your dog understand that you are in charge. Simply reward him with treats and praise for following your command ("sit") and briefly punish him for misbehavior.

Do you want more information about socializing and handling the aggressive and dominant behaviors of your Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog? Do you want lots of detailed information on a variety of other common Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog behavior problems?

About The Author:
Get FREE instant access to our Dog Behavior and Training course ($27 value) at Dog Training Tips. Learn how to prevent and resolve problem behaviors in your Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog like aggression and dominance. It's your guide to rearing and training your Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog, and deals with all aspects of Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog ownership. http://doglinkz.com/dogtraining.

Posted on December 30, 2008 by Mike Howell | Posted under Pets Dogs

Dog House Training Tips

House training a puppy dog is very important for the well being of both the puppy and the owner. The number one reason that dogs are surrender to animal shelters is problems with inappropriate elimination, so it is easy to see why proper house training is such an important consideration.

It is important to establish proper toilet habits when the puppy is young, since these habits can last a lifetime, and be very hard to break once they are established. It is very important for the owner to house break the puppy properly. In most cases, true house training cannot begin until the puppy is six months old. Puppies younger than this generally lack the bowel and bladder control that is needed for true house training.

Puppies younger than six months should be confined to a small, puppy proofed room when the owner cannot supervise them. The entire floor of the room should be covered with newspapers or similar absorbent materials, and the paper changed every time it is soiled. As the puppy gets older, the amount of paper used can be reduced as the puppy begins to establish a preferred toilet area. It is this preferred toilet area that will form the basis of later house training.

The Do's of House Training Your Dog:

* Always provide the puppy with constant, unrestricted access to the established toilet area.
* When you are at home, take the puppy to the toilet area every 45 minutes.
* When you are not at home or cannot supervise the puppy, you must be sure the puppy cannot make a mistake. This means confining the puppy to a small area that has been thoroughly puppy proofed. Puppy proofing a room is very similar to baby proofing a room, since puppies chew on everything.

* Always provide a toilet area that does not resemble anything in your home. Training the puppy to eliminate on concrete, blacktop, grass or dirt is a good idea. The puppy should never be encouraged to eliminate on anything that resembles the hardwood flooring, tile or carpet he may encounter in a home.

* Praise and reward your puppy every time he eliminates in the established toilet area. The puppy must learn to associate toileting in the established areas with good things, like treats, toys and praise from his owner.

* Always keep a set schedule when feeding your puppy, and provide constant access to fresh, clean drinking water. A consistent feeding schedule equals a consistent toilet schedule.

* Using a crate can be a big help in helping a puppy develop self control. The concept behind crate training is that the puppy will not want to toilet in his bed area.

* And finally, it is important to be patient when house training a puppy. House training can take as long as several months, but it is much easier to house train right the first time than to retrain a problem dog.

The Don'ts of House Training Your Puppy

* Never reprimand or punish the puppy for mistakes. Punishing the puppy will only cause fear and confusion.

* Do not leave food out for the puppy all night long. Keep to a set feeding schedule in order to make the dog's toilet schedule as consistent as possible.

* Do not give the puppy the run of the house until he has been thoroughly house trained.

House training is not always the easiest thing to do, and some dogs tend to be much easier to house train than others. It is important, however to be patient, consistent and loving as you train your dog. A rushed, frightened or intimidated dog will not be able to learn the important lessons of house training. Once you have gained your puppy's love and respect, however, you will find that house training your puppy is easier than you ever expected.

About The Author:
The author Jon Clay manages the website on dog bad behavior training which offers expert dog training advice online. You get a chance to grab excellent dog behavior training videos by the expert dog trainer.