by:Melissa Wayan

Dog training is both frustrating and rewarding. It kills you to torment your poor puppy for months on end, trying to get them to understand commands that to them probably seem irrelevant and arbitrary. However, when they finally learn it is best for all. You are happy because they no longer eat your furniture or run away from you in the park. I am also convinced the puppy is now happier because he has learned how to manipulate you. He has learned that when you are happy you give him treats and he has also learned the things that are most likely to make you happy.

This is of course a beneficial relationship for all concerned. You get what you want and the dog gets what he wants, making everyone more pleased. Some people say that the dog is actually happier because it craves rules and boundaries. Dogs will test you to see how far they can push you because they want you to define their limitations, to give them their place in the household. I am not sure how convincing I find this argument but it makes some sense, in the way it makes sense that children with rules and boundaries tend to be better adjusted as well.

For this reason among others dog training is an important part of any household that has a dog. I have seen the houses where the poor dog is locked outside all day and night with no affection and love because he is "out of control". However in my experience this is normally because no one tried to control the dog and he was allowed to push his boundaries to the max until there ceased to be any. Dog training needs to be done, and to be done well in order for the dog to truly flourish.

Melissa Wayan makes it fun to care for your precious pooch. Read more about dog training help and dog training.

Technorati Tags: dog training

by:Lateef Olajide

It is very certain that there is no guarantee that your dog will never bite someone under any condition which you may not even predict. However, you can reduce the risk attached to dog bites.

The popular saying is that prevention is better than cure. Since prevention of dog bites is not the responsiblity of dog owners alone, here we will be discussing preventive measures the prospective dog owners, dog owners, parents, and general members of the public can make instant use of.

Preventive measures applicable to potential dog owners - The first thing you must do before you think of bringing in a dog to your household is to first evaluate your environment and your lifestyle.

Though there is no dog breed that will not bite under any condition which you may not predict, it is still very important for you to consult professionals like veterinarian, dog behaviorist and breeders to determine the breed that will be suitable for you, your family and most especially that will be suitable for your environment.

Obtaining breed specification will help you a lot in avoiding any possible future trouble. Prospective dog owners should not buy a dog that is less than 8 weeks of age. A Puppy bellow this age will not have the opportunity to learn bite inhibition from his litter mates at all.

Buying a dog that is above 4 months is a bit risky to be introduced to your home as you may not predict the dog behavior. However, if you are to buy an older dog at all make sure that you did not purchase a dog with any history of aggression.

If any of your children exhibit any fear or apprehension of dogs, make sure you delay bringing in a dog. You should know earlier if you seek your children's opinion during your evaluation of your environment. However, if your child is not yet 6 years of age it is advisable to hold the purchase of a large dog.

Preventive measures for dog owners according to the Humane Society of the United States resports spayed and neutered dogs are three times less likely to bite. Thus it is highly essential for you to spay and neuter you dogs. Doing this will reduce their frequent aggressive tendency.

As a dog owner it is very important that you socialize your dog. If you socialize your dog well it will be much less likely you will experience dog bites. Socializing you dog helps boost its confidence and reduce its being nervours or frightened under normal circumstances.

So socialize your dog very well by introducing your dog to your other family members, other people, and experiences that could possibly cause nervousness and fear-biting in the future. Do this and make it feel at ease with people and other dogs.

Dog training will also help you in preventing dog bites. You have to learn proper training techniques by attending dog training class. Attending these classes will help you socialize your dog.

Train your dog to respond to some basic comands such as "stay, "leave it" and "come". Also train your dog to drop his toys on command . If you don't do this you will have to retrieve it from his mouth, taking the risk of your finger being bitten.

Lateef OlajideFor concluding part of this article or more on dog bite:Visit: http://www.dog-bite-prevention.com

Technorati Tags: dog breed, dog bites, dog training

by:Michael Colucci

Dogs which pull on their leash while walking with you is a common problem seen among many different breeds. This problem can be seen in puppies as well as adult dogs. Dogs which pull on their leash while you walk this is more than just aggravating. If the leash breaks, the dog could run and put itself or others in danger. You should want to walk your dog, not have it walking you.

There are a number of different reasons why your dog will pull on the leash. Some dogs are so happy to go for a walk that they are out of control, and are anxious to move about. Other dogs see themselves as being the leader, and will move forward with force because they feel that they are moving ahead of the pack. If your dog is very happy about going out, it may help to give them some time to calm down. You can stand still with the dog for a few minutes until they become more relaxed.

If the dog feels that it is the leader, this is a sign that you should begin training him. The owner has to show the dog that they are the leader. When you don't have this understanding with your dog, it will be impossible to train them properly. If your dog shows signs of control, it is best to go back to simple obedience training. If you don't have the time to train the dog yourself, it may be best to send them to a dog training school.

The instructor can train you as well as your dog, and they can show you how to keep the dog from trying to be the leader. Skilled instructors should always work with both you and your dog. The first step in getting the dog not to pull on the leash is to get it to accept the collar. If the dog is moving around a lot while you are trying to put on the collar, this is a sign that your dog will pull against the leash. Start by commanding your dog to sit or stay while you put on the collar. If the dog gets up after you've put on the collar, make him sit back down quickly.

You should only walk the dog after it sits down calmly and allows you to put on the collar and leash. Once the collar is on, don't allow the dog to jump up and rush ahead towards the door. Gently pull back on the leash. Make him sit back down again, and repeat the process until he gets the message.

Michael Colucci is a technical writer for Free Dog Training , Dog Care and Pet Zine

Technorati Tags: dog, obedience training

by:louisenova

The excitement of choosing your dog is over. You are arriving home and the family is rushing out of the car and into the house with the new puppy. As you look at the cute little face you ask yourself one question. Am I ready for this?

What to Feed This New Puppy.

First things first. You will have to decide on what this little puppy is going to eat. You need to choose a high quality diet. You need to do a little reasearch and make some decisions. Your first decision is what type of dog food you will choose.

1. Canned Dog Food
2. Dried Dog Food

Some people choose canned dog food because they feel it is more like real food. It retains about 70-80% of the water that is naturally in the vegetables and meat. This usually means that the puppy will drink less water. Be sure to supplement with some hard dog biscuits that are suitable for puppies which will help to keep their teeth clean.

Currently the most popular choice seems to be the dried dog food. Always choose the best quality food you can afford. You have to remember that if you were only going to eat one thing all your life it had better be good for you. Dried dog food is now a scientific blend of all the nutrients your dog will need but the better ones have less filler and the puppies need a lot of protein to grow.

For the first few days you might want to give the new puppy that same food that they were receiving at the kennel you bought them from. After that you can slowly start mixing in your new choice, using more each time until you have 100% of the new food. You may as well start with some dog training basics now by not leaving the food on the floor all day. Only put the food out when you decide and take it away after they have eaten. Do it often as they have to learn that food is only available when you decide.

Sleep Time Comes Fast.

Hopefully you have thought ahead enough to buy a crate. Get your puppy started sleeping in the crate from the first night and it will eventually treat it as a safe place to stay. Make sure that the bottom has a soft blanket for the puppy to curl up in. Unfortunately if you think that is the end of it for the night, you are wrong. As you try to sleep you will be constantly woken by the sad little cries of a puppy missing its mother and siblings. They are used to lots of warmth and noise so it might be a good idea to add a hot water bottle under the blanket and to leave a radio or TV on for a while. Some people even leave a loud ticking clock near the cage to simulate the heart beat of the mother.

Who Is Entertaining Whom?

You will soon realize that your puppy is not just entertaining but also needs to be entertained. You should have a selection of safe toys for them to play with such as:-

- Chew Ropes,
- Balls and Bones of Nylon
- Soft Toys

Make sure to be careful of the squeaky toys as the puppy could chew the toy and swallow the squeaker. This has often ended in surgery and even if it does not the squeaking will drive you insane as they catch on pretty quickly on how to bite in exactly the right spot. Only let them play with rubber balls if you are supervising as swallowed rubber can upset their stomachs.

Start With Dog Training Basics

A crate is useful training tool both for house training and puppy behavior in general. Treat it as you would a childs bedroom. It is a safe comfortable place to sleep but occasionally they will be sent there when naughty.

You should begin your dog training basics by putting your puppy in its crate any time you need to leave them unsupervised in the house, or at night. This gets them used to it and they will often go there on their own when they want to get away from people. They will cry at first but do not let them out right away. If you do they will quickly learn that all they have to do is whine and you will let them out.

There will come a time when you need to discipline your puppy. You should never hit your puppy or raise your voice. You can use the crate as a time-out place. This is useful if your puppy is play biting too much or if you have caught them chewing the furniture. Make sure that the punishment instantly follows the bad behavior or they will not know what they are in there for. Put them in quickly with a firm, No, and leave them in there for a few minutes. If you have to repeat it then increase the minutes until you get the action to stop. This one tool will give you some control and get you started on the dog training basics you will need.

Louise Nova endorses quality information and the best in dog behavior training programs on her site at Dog Training Basics