Dog Training



Monday, July 13, 2009

Top 12 Dog Training Commands Every New Dog Owners Should Know

Have you teach your new puppy or dog basic dog training commands yet? If you have not, then perhaps you should find out why these 12 training commands are vital to helping your dog get along happily with you and the rest of the world.

Many dog owners know the importance of teaching their dogs training commands to communicate and train their dogs in proper behavior however with so many different commands, which are the most important and effective dog training commands to know?

Well, here are essentially 12 dog training commands that many dog trainers believe a dog need to know to get along happily with you and the rest of the world.

Come

This is the first and most important command in a dog's command repertoire. Usually taught together with his/her name, it's a command that you will use actively to recall your dog back to you if he/she breaks free from the leash or is running around disturbing other people in the park.

Sit

This is one of the easiest commands to teach, and also one of the most useful especially to control your dog from getting too excited while you are preparing its meal. Dogs who understand the "Sit" command are easier to manage and are also less likely to misbehave like jumping on people, chasing animals or fighting with other dogs.

Stay

Often used in combination with commands "sit" or "down," the command "stay" is useful to keep your dog out of harms way should he/she approach something it's not suppose to or attempting to run across a busy street. Not the easiest command for dogs as sometimes their curiosity and animal instinct might take over instead of staying put when told.

Wait

Different from the "Stay" command which is more often use to keep your dog away from danger, the "Wait" command is more of a obedience command to keep your dog in check, letting him/her know he/she has to wait till your next command. Commonly use on dogs that have a habit of rushing through doors or pull ahead on a leash.

Down

Unlike the "sit" command, the "down" command means your dog goes down on his/her stomach. This command is an essential part of doggy etiquette. It's also more comfortable than a sitting position when you want your dog wait for you for more than a minute or two.

Stand

This command tells your dog to stop moving and be still. It's useful for when you are having a veterinarian examining him/her over or when you are bathing and grooming him/her.

Okay

The "Okay" command is use to release your dog from a previous command you have given earlier. For example, your dog is now free to walk through the open door after you had early given the "Wait" command.

No

Depending on the situation, the "No" is usually use to discourage or break up undesirable behavior such as chewing, biting or jumping. This is an important command that you should teach your puppy from the beginning.

Off

The "Off" command is useful to teach your dog to get off that expensive sofa or your bed and is also applicable for telling them to stop jumping on you or other people.

Leave It

Dogs are inquisitive animals and sometimes give in to their instinct to explore things that appeal to their senses. The "Leave It" command is perfect to stop dogs that fancies poop eating or having a fetish chewing habit to chew everything around the house.

Drop It

The "Drop It" command is necessary to get your dog drop whatever it is in their mouth especially items like your expensive leather shoe or unknown substances that might be potentially harmful. This command is also useful when you start teaching your dog how to "Fetch".

Heel

"Heel" simply means that your dog will walk on your left without lagging behind or running ahead of you. This is extremely useful for your dog to understand this command to prevent him/her pulling you on the leash while going for walks. This command becomes all the more necessary if you have a large dog.

Knowing these 12 dog training commands will give you the basic fundamentals to having a well-manner and obedient dog in your every day life.

Dog training should always be short, simple and fun. For additional information about effective dog obedience and behavior training, visit: http://www.dogtrainingclassroom.com

Alternatively, for new dog owners who are interested to learn how to execute the above mentioned dog training commands correctly and effectively, read the review of a highly rated, bestseller dog training book titled Secrets To Dog Training whereby Daniel, a certified expert dog trainer will teach and guide any new dog owner step-by-step on all the basic 12 dog training commands and many other more positive training methods... to having a well-behaved dog! http://www.dogtrainingclassroom.com/sitstayfetch.html

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Wednesday, March 25, 2009

House Training A Dog

Successfully house training a dog is one of the most important issues that many dog guardians face. If a dog is not satisfactorily trained to spend his or her time in the house, both you and the dog’s quality of life can be affected.

The First Steps

Dogs only know what they have learn; therefore it is our responsibility to make sure we house train them how to live in our houses. It is important that our dogs spend time inside with us because they are social creatures. No creature who seeks the companionship of another is happy when they have to spend a lot of time by themselves. It simply isn’t right to get a dog and then leave them outside or alone for their entire lives.

However, sometimes it can be quite challenging to share our living space with a dog who doesn’t know yet what is expected of him or her. To be successful with house training a dog, you needs to first “dog proof” your home. This is very important, especially when a new puppy or dog is brought into the house.

What does “dog proofing consist of? Below are some examples:

  • Putting away items that can normally be left out, such as shoes. Right at the level of a dog and something that smells like you, shoes are often a targeted chew toy.


  • Removing or putting out of reach pillows, remote controls, knick knacks, books, children’s toys and other miscellaneous items that are easily mistaken as dog toys.


  • Keeping kitchen counters and tables clear of anything that smells good to avoid the dog from searching them.


  • Put dangerous objects away such as household cleaners or breakable objects.


Practice Makes Perfect

When house training a dog, many people are hesitant to clear their house of items or change their habits, like picking stuff up off the floor and putting it out of dog reach. However, if your puppy or dog is able to rehearse an undesirable behavior, such as shredding your sofa pillows just a single time, they are more likely to do it again (because they have found that it was super fun the first time)! We do not want our dogs to be good at these kinds of habits. Therefore it is to your benefit to put all items you do not want your dog to touch, out of reach.

Yes, it is inconveniencing to live in a barren house for several months, but that certainly is preferred over living in a barren house for the rest of your life because you can’t leave bread on the counter of your kitchen because your dog has learned to be a professional counter surfer (a dog that jumps up on the counter and surfs it for anything that smells yummy! This is a nearly impossible behavior to correct once the dog learns it! Better to have them never practice it at all)! Once your dog has a routine going, and he or she demonstrates that they are figuring out the house rules, then you can start slowly introducing objects back into your house.

Management techniques to employ while house training a dog:

  • Putting the dog in his or her crate when you can’t keep a constant eye on him or her.


  • Putting the dog on their leash and tethering them to the leg of a table or sofa. This allows the dog access to only that area. This can only be used in situations where you are present but occupied with other things.


  • A lot of toys, chewies and other proper outlets for dogs to focus their attention and energy.


  • Exercise. Ensuring your dog gets exercise that is appropriate to their age and activity level is not only good for their health but could be good for your furniture! A tired dog is less likely to chew on your table leg than a dog who has a lot of energy and no outlet.


  • Dog day care. A recent addition in many of our communities, doggie day care is a place to bring your dog where they can play with other dogs. This is good for people who work and don’t want to leave their dog home all day long.


  • Hiring a dog walker to come in and give your dog exercise in the middle of the day when you are at work.


When Something Does Go Wrong

If you are able to witness your puppy or dog chewing on an item that is not theirs refrain from scolding them and simply do a trade with them. Give them something that is theirs (ideally something better than the object they currently have) and discreetly stow away the dog-illegal item. (If your dog growls, snaps, hunches over the object, or displays any other behavior that makes you afraid to take the object away, refrain from doing so. Instead, bait the dog away from the object. Do not put yourself in harms way and consult a professional dog trainer. For a dog to want to keep a prized possession is normal, but unwanted behavior.)

If you come home from a day at work and the first thing you see when you come in the door are the feathers of your shredded couch pillow, the best action to take is simply a deep breath. To yell at or punish the dog for their destructive behavior is not only pointless, but cruel. Dogs do not have the capacity to make the connection between your yelling and the pillow they had a great time destroying 4 hours earlier. All they would be learning instead is to be afraid of you when you walk in the door, they see your body stiffens and you yell their name. Rather, the best technique is to calmly vacuum up the mess. Reward yourself for being calm and handling the situation the correct way by giving yourself a piece of cake! (Hey, reward good behavior!)

Hopefully by setting your dog up for success, not giving them access to inappropriate objects, giving them plenty of dog toys, utilizing the management techniques and handling situations correctly, house training a dog can be easier on you and on your dog, allowing a long and happy life together under one roof!

Get more helpful and useful tips for house training a dog successfully

Wednesday, August 22, 2007

Dog Training Obedience Schools

How To Choose The Best Dog Training Obedience Schools

If you are a busy working owner of a badly behaved dog, dog training obedience schools can help you work a complete and essential change in your canine’s behavior.

No more coming back home from work to find chewed shoes or soiled carpets. Dog training obedience schools can also be a great opportunity to turn back to a most enjoyable life-style for you and your four-legged friend.

So let’s start and see what are the necessary criteria for you to find the best dog training obedience school in your area.

Many pet owners find choosing a dog training obedience school similar to deciding on a child’s education. Recommendations make first-hand information; a vet, your friendly pet store owner or friends with dogs may suggest the services of a specific dog training obedience school.

Once you have a shortlist of dog training obedience schools, bring your dog along and have a look at the training centers, talk to trainers and get familiar with the overall atmosphere of the place. Keep in mind that for maximum results your dog needs to be happy and feel at ease at the dog training obedience school, otherwise the efforts may be a waste of time and money.


To read more... go to Choosing The Right Dog Training School For Your Dog

Monday, August 06, 2007

Dog training in Los Angeles

Are you sick and tired of your dog’s disobedience? Would you simply like to go out in the park and be sure it will come when you call it? Well, in order to make it real, you’ll have to start training your dog. Dog training in Los Angeles for instance is well known throughout the US for the large number of facilities than in other parts of the country.

If you don’t know which facility to turn to from the many that advertise for the dog training in Los Angeles, it is a good thing to go and visit the “school” as such and see what it offers for your animal. Credentials and good reputation are everything for a dog training institution in Los Angeles. My advice to you is to try and choose the right dog training school in Los Angeles that best meets your expectations about price and quality per price.

Maybe you want to control your dog’s barking, or simply prevent it from chewing things around the house. When you go to a dog training facility in Los Angeles, talk to the trainers and state your problem clearly. It is not a bad idea to take your pet with you, to see how it feels around the training premises. Dog training in Los Angeles relies on some of the most effective educational methods; however, despite all great offers it is essential that you and the pet feel comfortable and open to learning new things. This is the best criterion when choosing any dog training facilities in Los Angeles.

There are puppy and dog potty training programs available in the centres that provide dog training in the Los Angeles area. Nevertheless, you need to know that very often, programs require dog owner active involvement in the process; how else could you possibly learn to communicate with your pet? Plus, dog training in Los Angeles opens the door for you understanding new stuff for your puppy and dog needs that you don’t find the time or the patience to learn otherwise.

For more dog training information, take a look at Dog Training Schools

Wednesday, May 09, 2007

Dog Obedience Training

Dogs are social animals and a lack of training can bring out the wild behavior in them. Dog obedience training helps your dog develop good behavior. Obedience training is great for your dog, as it is a good mental exercise that enables the dog to live happier and with more freedom.

When a dog destroys your belongings because playing is ripping things to shreds, or goes to the bathroom everywhere because it knows no better, it’s time for dog obedience training. The training may not resolve all the dog’s behavioral problems, but will certainly solve some of them. The most important skill needed in dog obedience training is effective communication that enables your dog to obey any command such as ‘heel,’ ‘stay,’ ‘sit’ and ‘come.’ Make sure that the obedience training sessions are not boring but rewarding for both you and your dog.

The two most popular and important styles of obedience training are leash/collar training and reward training. Reward training is a less intense approach then the leash/collar training. In reward training, the dog is encouraged and rewarded for good behavior. Always remember that learning will be faster, if you reward your dog for good behavior. It is equally important to praise the dog. Obedience training sessions should be short and constant as a dog’s behavior can change from time to time, so constant training is always a good idea.

The key to preventing or treating behavior problems is learning to teach the dog to redirect his natural behavior to outlets that are acceptable in domestic settings.

Obedience training doesn't solve all behavior problems, but it is the foundation for solving just about any dog problem.

Dog Training provides detailed information on Dog Training, Dog Obedience Training, Dog Agility Training, Dog Training Collars and more. Dog Training is affiliated with How To Build A Dog Kennel.

Tuesday, February 20, 2007

Puppy Training Tips - Teaching Your New Puppy

House training a puppy need not be that difficult and can actually be enjoyable. Playtime with your new puppy can be fun, but did you also know that it could be the first steps in your puppy's education as well? Even in the wild, young wolf cubs learn about their world through play and your puppy is no different. By utilizing play as a tool you can effectively teach your pup all the basics that will help her be a well-behaved dog when she grows up.
There are three basic things that a puppy - even one as young as six weeks old - needs to start learning. The first and most useful of those things is simply the word, "No." You will be using that command repeatedly during your relationship with your dog and so it is very important that he knows it from the start.
And it's easy. Dogs, even puppies, are adept at recognizing tone of voice. When they learn to associate a displeased, forceful tone of voice with the word no, you will not in the future have to be so forceful in your utterances. But first you do have to get his attention. When the pup does something wrong, simply pick him up, gain eye contact and tell him very firmly, "No." It will get an immediate reaction. Depending on your pup's personality, he will drop his head and become sheepish, growl or attempt to talk you out of it by asking you to play. If either of the latter two happens, you will have to repeat the command to show that you are not kidding.
Then, simply let it go. Put the pup down and keep a watchful eye on his response. A rebellious pup may repeat the action as a way to test you, in which case you need to repeat the process. Be gentle, but be firm and consistent and your pup should get the message.
As for the other things that your baby needs to know, you will probably default to teaching him the proper way to go potty. This is actually easier than you might think, as pups are a lot smarter than they look. Timing is, however, everything. If you notice a puddle on the floor and your pup has since gone off to play with his ball, the only thing you can do is clean it up and watch him more closely. Don't rub his nose in it, or he will simply be hurt and confused. What you want to do is catch him in the act. When you see him start to take a tinkle, grab him and take him outside. Chances are he will be so shocked that he will save some for the yard, and when he goes there you can praise him lavishly.
The third thing that your pup needs to know is that he should never put his teeth on a human being. This is a tough one, as it is so much fun to play "bite" with a youngster. But when they are older, you really don't want them to play so rough. So when you play with him, be sure to do so with toys that are okay for him to bite. If he bites when you are trying to pet him, tell him no and give him his toy or put his toy right in his mouth. If he persists, pick him up and tell him no. If you are consistent, you should get good results.
When your pup has accomplished learning her first command, or goes outside instead of on the floor and stops puppy-biting, she is well on her way to graduating from puppy to a well-mannered adult.
Jack Chambers is an avid dog lover and research writer on a number of dog behavior topics at http://www.onlinedogbreeds.com/ You can find a great source of dog related information on a variety of topics from finding the right dog breeds for young children to a number of dog health issues and more.

Monday, February 19, 2007

Dog Training Magazine

Dog Training Magazines

There have been some interesting updates from Dog Training Classroom on Dog Training Magazine

You might be interested to check it out if you are looking at what good Dog Training Magazines are available.