Why not to train your dog: 5 of the best excuses.

Why not to train your dog: 5 of the best excuses.
There are almost as many dog-training excuses as there are dog owners. Here are five of my particular favourites - not because they justify not training a dog, but because they show how poorly people understand dog training, and dog training methods. 1) I don’t want to break my dog’s spirit. Many people cite examples of listless dogs or dogs that won’t do anything unless told. In 20 years of handling dogs, I don’t think I’ve ever met any of these mythical dogs ” except where the dog has no stimulation at all, he will always be excited and pleased to be rewarded for doing what he’s told. This does not make a dog listless or unhappy ” it gives him purpose and rewards thinking! Beating a dog will break his spirit and make him afraid of doing wrong, but this is not training. Beating does not teach him obedience, it just teaches him fear. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that the dog cowering at the end of his lead as his owner shouts at him has been ‘trained’. Far from it. He has possibly been abused. 2) She’s such lovely dog: I wouldn’t change her for the world! Lovely dogs are lovely despite not being trained, rather than because they’re not trained. Exceptionally lucky owners may have a lovely dog who doesn’t bark much, who avoid people who are afraid of them, who never chew things, and may not even pull at the lead. But dogs are pack animals, and need rules to live by, and a leader to look up to. Training will not change your lovely dog’s personality, but will help her to understand life, make her more content and an even better companion. Actually, most people who wouldn’t change anything put up with a lot of inconvenience to ‘keep their dog’s personality’. 3) I don’t have time to train him. Why do we have dogs? A dog is a living, breathing, thinking being that needs stimulation, play, exercise and companionship. All of these needs can be answered through training, which strengthens the bond between us and our animals, giving us both what we need. Better still, the very activities that make our dogs the perfect pets are the best activities to use to train him. If you spend time with your dog, you have time to train him. If you don’t spend time with your dog, maybe it’s time to consider whether a dog is the best pet for you. 4) He’s only a puppy ” I’ll train him when he’s older. No, no, no, no! Would you wait for a child to go to school before teaching them to speak, or before potty training them? Dog training isn’t a chore for the puppy! Dog training is fun and fulfilling, and the training gives your puppy something to occupy their mind. Pet your puppy when she comes to you; make a fuss of her and give her titbits when she brings you a slipper, or a piece of paper off the floor! The more enthusiastic you are when she sits, the more she’ll love to sit for you. The more she loves coming to you for praise, the more likely she is to leave Mrs Smith’s cat alone when you call her. Train her now, or you may be paying for it for the rest of her life. 5) He’s well behaved anyway The dog is a pack animal. A pack has a leader and followers of various importance. If you don’t take the responsibility of leadership, your dog may may feel he has to. This will be stressful for him and for you. If you don’t set the rules, your dog will, and you may not like them! Your dog should be a relaxing companion, not an adversary, a boss or a burden.

Justin Davies has been involved with dogs and their training for over 20 years and writes dog training articles for <a href="http://www.best4dogtraining.com">www.best4dogtraining.com</a>. For more information on training your dog, go to <a href="http://www.newdogtrainingmethods.info">www.newdogtrainingmethods.info</a>

Choosing Dog Training Equipment
To train your dog you need some good equipment to do it! It’s easy enough to find places that sell dog training equipment these days. You can find stores in your local phonebook or on the internet. The internet has everything these days and is usually a lot less expensive. So I suggest having a look there first. Dog training equipment comes in all shapes, sizes and colours so there is something to suit everyone. Dog training equipment can be used anywhere, at home, at a friend s house or even in a field in the middle of nowhere. The equipment is usually lightweight and portable and very easy to pack so you should have no problems carting it around. Not only can you get dog training equipment for dog agility but you can also purchase items for dog obedience. Dog obedience items are simple things like clickers, treat balls (which are amazing), extendable leashes and other similar items. They are a lot easier to get than agility items. When you decided you want to compete with your dog you usually pick one or the other, dog agility or dog obedience. For dog obedience you only concentrate on dog obedience, for dog agility you need your dog to be obedient so there is a little bit more training involved. Dog training equipment can be funky or old fashioned, bright or dull it s up to you. Many stores cater for individual needs so you can specify what you would like your equipment to be like. Dog training equipment is sometimes needed for obedience when you have a stubborn dog, and for dog agility training equipment is essential. Dog training equipment needn t only be for competition purposes. You can get equipment for fun training to. When you want to teach your dog to come, sit and stay and some other commands toys are always a great help. You and your dog need to enjoy special moments together to make a bond with each other, why not make a bond and train at the same time? The better the bond the more fun it will be!

Razak Ariyo is a computer scientist. An experience owner and lover of dogs. Get a free 10 part dog training mini course that can easily speed up the training of your dog at http://master-dog-training.blogspot.com

Wrought Iron Dog Bed - It’s Not Ruffin’ It!
Author Georgia Templeton explains: Your dog is an important part of your family, so give him or her a special place to sleep with a wrought iron dog bed.

Litter box training your dog
You have suddenly noticed that your pet dog is acting strange and showing unpredictable behavior, which you could not understand. You could not even begin to address your dog s behavioral problem and so you seek professional help through a dog training school. Dog training schools are highly recommended for dogs with behavioral issues. Its main objective is to achieve proper understanding and good communication between the dog owner and the pet. This special type of school can help dog owners to properly understand and communicate with their dogs well. Changes in a dog s behavior as well as other behavioral problem issues including excessively loud barking, disobedience, aggression and many more can be corrected in a dog training school. It is important that both the dog owner and the pet should participate in the school s training program. Dog training schools specialize in training programs that resolve dogs problematic behavior, switching it into positive swing by providing an environment that is highly conducive for dogs. Settings where the dog s habit breaking took place are usually avoided. Basic training is also given to dogs with commands using voice and hand signals. Other types of training programs offered are problem elimination as well as advanced obedience. Advance obedience allows a dog to move freely about while being still on the command of the owner. On the other hand, dog owners, with the guidance of dog training professionals, are taught behavioral methods as well as dealing with their pets before going back to their homes. Robinswood Kennel is a dog training school that is known for its quality dog training. Many of the school s clients walk away with utmost satisfaction because it has been consistently able to successfully train different kinds of dogs. Robinswood Kennel highly values dog training and has been a trusted institution for such. Robinswood Kennels offers training programs that help rectify unusual behavioral problems in dogs. Dog training schools also offer security-training programs. This is intended for dogs that are being used for patrolling with police officers, search and rescue missions and other security purposes. There are various security-training programs available for all breeds of dogs ranging from basic protection to advanced bodyguard training levels. Dogs with behavioral problems can greatly affect its relationship with their owner and can even cause serious harm. That is why, it is important for both human and canine to maintain a solid, harmonious relationship with each other. Enrolling your dog in a dog training school to correct behavior and instill can be your ultimate solution to achieve good relationship with your canine pet.

Benz Slow is a <a href="http://www.the-dog-training-method.com/tools/">dog</a> trainer and a writer. For more information about <a target="_new" href="http://www.the-dog-training-method.com/info/">dog training</a>, visit <a target="_new" href="http://www.the-dog-training-method.com">The-Dog-Training-Method.com</a>.

Parenting Lessons Learned From Dog Training
To some people it may seem ridiculous to compare training dogs to raising children. But, I ve actually come to see many similarities between successful dog training and effective parenting. I started thinking about this one day while I was shopping. There was a woman in the store who continually (and mostly unsuccessfully) called to her very young daughter: Jennifer Jenny Jennifer Jennifer Jen After about 15 minutes of hearing this I wanted to (among other things) tell her, Please stop calling her. Jenny clearly doesn t respond to hearing her name called. She may not even understand what you want. What you re doing isn t working. Try something else. Of course I decided against saying this. - -But it made me think ” and I realized that I had made this same mistake when I was young and inexperienced. It s an easy mistake to make.

While this mother surely meant well, she was actually teaching Jenny NOT to respond. Jennifer was learning that when she was called, there was no compelling need to respond. She may not have even known what was expected of her. But she was learning that she would be called not once ” but many, MANY times. She was learning that she could choose which time, if any, to actually do what was being requested of her. She was also learning there were many ways in which she could respond. She stand still and continue touching whatever she was touching (her most common response), she could turn around and run in the opposite direction, or she could return to her mother (which she did least often of all ” over what seemed to be the eternity this went on around me.) A better solution would have been for this mom to call her toddler once ” and then take her by the hand if she didn t respond to her name being called. This same principle applies to your dog. Until your dog has 100% recall to the come command, don t use the command unless you can enforce it. (In other words, make sure he s on a lead.) If you can t enforce the command on the first call ” your dog will learn that he doesn t need to respond to you when given this command. Never give a command twice. Say it once ” reward and praise lavishly if the proper response is given. If the desired response isn t given, then help your dog to give the proper response and then praise him (or her.) And this principle applies to anything you teach your dog ” not just the come command.

Another similarity between dog training and child rearing is the principle: reward works better than punishment. Period. I believe this is true not only with dogs ” but with children as well (and with most adults too.) Try to find your pet doing the RIGHT behavior ” then immediately praise and reward. This will have a snowballing effect: the more you praise the good behaviors the more frequently they will occur ” the more opportunities you will have to praise ” etc

A third similarity between dog training and parenting that occurred to me is that both require lots of patience and consistence. Both pets and children generally respond best when the people who love and care for them possess and display these qualities. Patience is absolutely necessary whether raising a child or a pup. Without it, you are both doomed. And, a caregiver who displays consistence unquestionably benefits both children and pets as well.


So, I think you ll agree, there really are some important similarities between successful dog training and effective parenting. You must have the proper expectations and frame of mind yourself. It s necessary to help your loved one to provide appropriate responses until he is able to do so on his own. Remember that reward works better than punishment. Always be patient and consistent. All of these actions and attitudes will be of assistance whether your goal is effective parenting or successful dog training. (Oh, and just encase your daughter s name is Jenny and you think that may have been you at the mall ” I changed G s name to Jenny to protect the young and inexperienced. I was there once too. ;))

Article provided courtesy of e.dog.training.com. For information on How to Potty Train Your Dog please visit: http://www.e-dog-training.com/HowToHouseTrainYourDog.html For General Puppy Training Advice please see: http://www.e-dog-training.com/Top10PuppyTrainingTips.html Copyright 2007 May be printed or publish provided credit and a link is provided to: http://www.e-dog-training.com

AgreSsion in Boxers
There are certain breeds of dogs that tend to be more aggressive than others. We all have heard stories of pit bulls, chow-chows, and boxers that show aggressive behavior, growling, snarling, and even biting people and other animals. Signs of hostility in a dog include bared teeth, flattened ears, erect tail, stiff legs, and bristling back hair; the dog may growl or bark. If you see these behaviors, you should keep your arms at your sides and slowly back away, while firmly saying “No.” Why do certain breeds tend to be aggressive? Let s look at boxers as one breed that can behave aggressively under certain circumstances. Why do boxers tend to be aggressive? Sometimes Boxers are aggressive just because it is part of the breed s specific instinctual behavior. It is not learned, but inbred over time. Boxers also tend to become aggressive when they have not been socialized adequately as puppies. A lack of exposure to the world, including other animals and people causes boxers to fear the unknown. They show aggression toward other animals and people because they are unsure and afraid. Boxers are strong-willed dogs; they have minds of their own and they don t hesitate to act on their own. Boxers need confident owners who can take charge of the animal, train properly, and maintain control at all times. Be aware that sometimes aggression can be caused by thyroid problems. Always have your dog checked by a vet when it shows aggression to rule out medical problems. Understanding Your Boxer Sometimes Boxers are aggressive just because it is part of the breed s specific instinctual behavior. It is not learned, but inbred over time. Boxers also tend to become aggressive when they have not been socialized adequately as puppies. A lack of exposure to the world, including other animals and people causes boxers to fear the unknown. They show aggression toward other animals and people because they are unsure and afraid. Boxers are strong-willed dogs; they have minds of their own and they don t hesitate to act on their own. Boxers need confident owners who can take charge of the animal, train properly, and maintain control at all times. Be aware that sometimes aggression can be caused by thyroid problems. Always have your dog checked by a vet when it shows aggression to rule out medical problems. Understanding Your Boxer Many Boxers have protective instincts toward their owners when strangers are near. They need extensive exposure to friendly people so they learn to recognize the normal, non-threatening behavior of family members, friends, and neighbors. Then they are able to recognize the differences when someone acts threatening. Without extensive socialization from an early age, they are suspicious of everyone, which can lead to biting, snarling, growling, and aggressiveness or are so fearful of being harmed that they become aggressive in their own defense. Many Boxers are dominant or aggressive toward other dogs, especially those of the same sex. Some have strong instincts to chase and kill cats and other animals. If anything goes wrong in the breeding, socializing, training, or care of this breed, it is capable of injuring or killing other animals. If a Boxer puppy is removed from its mother before seven weeks of age, it will not learn canine social signals such as bite inhibition, which are taught by the mother dog and siblings during this time. The puppy will be mouthy and nip, resist being handled, and act aggressively and fearfully toward other animals. Conversely, if a puppy lives with its mother or siblings for more than 12 weeks, his position in the “pecking order” may be so ingrained that he will always act dominant (if he was at the top) or submissive (if he was at the bottom) toward people or other dogs. How to Control Aggressive Boxers? Socializing Boxers The best way to begin socializing your Boxer is to bring him home at seven or eight weeks of age and get him out into the world daily. Yes, daily is what it takes to establish a strong bond with your dog so that he will trust, respect, and obey you. This is socializing your dog, i.e.; getting him used to people, other dogs, other animals, and the world. This has an incredible impact on your dog s behavior as he grows into adulthood. It s also crucial to socialize your adolescent dog, between the ages of six and nine months old to three years old. This is a difficult time of life for dogs; they are changing physically and learning constantly. They must be taught how to behave around people and other animals. Continuing to socialize your Boxer during adulthood will not change the attitudes your dog has developed as a puppy, but can help to control his behavior so that he doesn t act afraid or aggressive. Socializing begins early and continues throughout your Boxer s life. Take him for rides in the car. Take him to pet stores and other stores that allow dogs. Expose him to other animals at dog parks and as you take walks. Visit friends with him and have friends come to your home. Teach the dog to greet visitors. Use praise, praise, praise and affection constantly to encourage good behavior. Build a strong relationship with your Boxer; you are the leader and as the leader you must be calm, strong, loving, and consistent. Touching has a powerful emotional effect on many dogs. It is part of the bonding process between the owner and the dog. Your dog must be willing to accept touching so that you can groom him, care for injuries, and put leashes and collars on him. Also, touch will help develop a strong, loving relationship between you, leading to his desire to please you. A daily touch session of five minutes or so is invaluable. Training Boxers Most puppies are ready to begin obedience lessons at six to eight months of age. The first lessons should be brief, 10 to 15 minutes a day (in addition to socialization activities), and gradually increase to 30 minutes. Training works best with lots of praise and a stern “no” for corrections. The trainer should always be consistent in reinforcing good behavior and correcting bad behavior and should never strike a dog. Many trainers use a leash and chain-link collar, known as a choke collar. In spite of its name, the collar is never meant to choke a dog, but is used to deliver quick snaps to gain a dog’s attention. This training collar is useful in teaching basic obedience commands, such as sit, stay, heel, come, and down. You must establish yourself as the leader of the dog s pack. If you don t, you will never have your dog under control. You must be strong, calm, firm, and respectful of the dog. Your behavior will determine whether your dog will obey you and respect you. The well-trained dog isn t ultimately trained by treats, collars, or demands; he is trained by his love and respect for you. Conclusion In training Boxers to be non-aggressive, the owner must commit to daily socialization and training sessions for the duration of the dog s life. The respectful and loving relationship between the Boxer and the owner is the most important factor in the Boxer s acceptance of and non-aggression toward people and other animals. The owner must be the pack leader ” firm, loving, consistent, and in control at all times. Learn all about Dog Adoption from the unique e-book Super Dogs and Puppies. If you are searching for dog AGGRESSION, learn the right reasons and solutions.

Nancy Richards has been a dog lover for the past 12 years. She has owned and handled dogs of different ages and have helped many fellow owners in training their dog

How to Toilet Train a Cat
Maybe you have heard of people who have managed to train their cats to use a human toilet, well this is correct. One big advantage to this is that you don’t have to carry heavy bags of litter home from the supermarket, or even better you don’t have to clean out the dirty litter box everyday.

Bespoke Dog Kennel
Author Moutushi Banerjee explains: Dogs have earned a special place in lives and hearts of human being. They also have some basic requirements like shelter, food, exercise and companionship. As we, human being need shelter to survive, like the same dogs also requires a home to live in. Bespoke kennels take care to provide favourable and hygeinic facilities for the dogs.

Choosing Dog Breeds for City Living? Here are Some Recommendations
Author Hendry Lee explains: A dog can bring a lot of happiness to life but you must make sure they are suitable not only to the environment you live in but also to your lifestyle. What dog breeds are suitable for city dwellers?

10 Reasons Why You Should Buy a Dog Stroller
Author Andrei Smith explains: Dog strollers are created to provide security and ultimate comfort to your pets. Here are ten significant reasons why you should buy one.

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