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Friday, March 31, 2006

Dog Training Online

With just about everything available on the internet it is no surprise when you hear that dog training online is available. Many sites are offering tips and helpful hints to training your dog and many of them are fabulous! Just search for "dog training" online and up comes at least 100 pages full of exciting and hilarious ideas to try and train your dog with. You don't have to take them all seriously just have a glance over them all and see what tickles your fancy. Why not try a few?

You do have to be careful though because some of the sites are just people trying to make some quick money. There are sites which make you pay to download E-book's but I wouldn't advise it as there are plenty of sites out there offering the same advice for free. Many sites come with helpful pictures and video clips which all help in the road to a happily trained dog. Other sites even offer forums and chat room options so you can talk with other people and get some tips off of them.

Dog training online is like purchasing a video or a book, but without the hassle and expense. The results online are instant, and you can have them to hand when you are training you dog. Some of the dog training online sites offer products to go with their services, the products are available at an extra charge of course, but can be shipped anywhere. There are real experts available each with their own website so you can be sure of great training exercises. You do like I said have to watch out for bogus claims and people making you pay for their advice. These sites are not recommended.

There are other types of online dog training websites e.g. sites where you can actually hire a personal trainer and book a week of their time, they then come out to your house and spend a week, or whatever amount of time you have booked and paid for and spend that time with you and training your dog.

Many handlers are now turning to the internet to find some practical, inexpensive and quality advice. When searching for a good site always check the writers credentials and reviews, especially if your paying for their services. At the end of the day training your dog is supposed to be about fun, so kick back relax, have a good read at the tips available on a website then have a go!

About The Author

William Nabaza of http://www.Nabaza.com specializes in domains, webhosting, webmaster's tools, netpreneur's articles and resources. Stands out as a freebie provider, business opportunity provider and the like. Visit his site at http://www.nabaza.com or contact him directly at william@nabaza.com There's more pet resources here: http://www.nabaza.com/pets.htm

Dog Training Secrets

Every dog and every dog owner has his or her own unique dog training challenges. Each breed of dog has a different temperament as does each individual dog. And dog owners are no different. Despite the differences, there are some basic things in common for training all dogs.

No matter why you have a dog, he should at least have some very elementary dog training. No one wants a dog who isn't housebroken, who runs away or into the street, who won't sit, come or stay when you want him to. Both you and your dog will be happier with a little common ground on obedience training.

One of the first things to take into account when dog training is that dogs are programmed for a world of leaders and followers. You have to be the leader in your relationship. Signs of a leader are absolute consistency. Know what you want your dog to do and keep that constant from day to day and training session to training session. Don't shout. That is a sign that you have lost control. And keep your dogs attention focused on you during the entire training session.

Attention is the second important thing to keep in mind for dog training and one of the hardest to maintain. It has been said that ninety percent of dog training is getting and keeping his attention. Dogs are very much like small children and have short attention spans. Keep training sessions short - 20 minutes is fine, or even a couple of 10 minute sessions. Work with your dog in a quiet environment that is free of distractions. Talk to your dog in a quiet voice. Use his name and explain what you want him to do. He may understand no more than, "Blah blah blah, Toby", but your voice will keep him focused in your direction.

Experts have found that positive dog training is more effective that a system of rewards and punishment. A dog who looks forward to training sessions as fun and full of rewards is a dog who will learn faster and better. Reward accomplishments with treats or words of praise or pats. As your dog learns new skills, you can reward him for each step along the way. If he doesn't respond the way you want, rethink what you are asking him to do and how you are asking him to do it. What worked as a dog training method for one dog may not work as well for the next. Your dog may need to review some more basic dog training lessons before going on to new lessons. Rather than punishment, a stern NO, blocking a movement with your hands, or withholding rewards when he doesn't perform, and remaining consistent are the best ways to encourage your dog to exhibit the behavior you want. Remember that it is in his nature (as well as yours) to want to test limits and see how much he can get away with. Consistency in dog training and rewards are what get positive results, not punishments.

Dogs are very much like us. They want to follow a leader they respect. And dog training is just like school. They like to do things that are fun and make them feel good, where they get rewards for accomplishing what is asked of them. And they want the same thing their owners want, a happy and safe relationship with the ones they are love. A little dog obedience training will go a long way in making this happen.

About The Author

Hannah Spencer - This is only the beginning for training your dog. Learn more Secrets for Dog Training by visiting: http://www.dog-training-for-you.com

Thursday, March 23, 2006

8 dog training tips for you and your dog.

By Fayola Peters

Dog training requires simple persistence to be a successful and
delightful experience for you and your dog.
Here are 8 dog training tips to guide you along the way.

1. Dog Training Tips - Get your dog's attention
Before you can start training your dog you first need to get its attention. You can do this by talking to him and offering him a small treat.

2. Dog Training Tips - Use the correct dog training supplies
If you have a well behaved dog a six foot training lead and a regular buckle collar will do. However if you dog is uncontrollable you should use a training collar. For the right collar size measure the dogs' neck and add 2 inches.

3. Dog Training Tips - For safety in vehicles
Before you introduce your dog to the inside of a moving vehicle you should teach him the 'down!' and 'stay!' commands. This ensures that he spends the ride on the floor of the vehicle.

4. Dog Training Tips - Elimination
When your dog got to go it got to go. To prevent your dog from getting busy on the carpet you should train him to eliminate on command.

5. Dog Training Tips - Praise
Always praise your dog when he learns a new command.

6. Dog Training Tips - Reprimand
Do not hit your dog! Any time your dog is engaging in bad behavior, use the opportunity to teach him the 'stop!' or 'no!' command. Using the 'stay!' command can also be effective in these situations.

7. Dog Training Tips - Play with your dog
This will help in building the bond between you and your dog.

8. Dog Training Tips - Do some dog training everyday
Don't rush dog training. Teach your dog one command at a time and don't move on until he gets it. A little dog training everyday is all that's needed.

Well that's it for my dog training tips. Enjoy training your dog and remember that it takes simple persistence. or in print, free of charge, as long as the bylines are included. A courtesy copy of your publication would be appreciated. fayolap@yahoo.com

Well that's it for my dog training tips. Enjoy training your dog and
remember that it takes simple persistence.

About The Author
Fayola Peters is the webmaster of The-Dog-Training-Guide.com
(http://www.the-dog-training-guide.com)

A Guide To Dog Training Collars

As more breeds of dogs are domesticated, the number of available dog training collars are also steadily increasing. Sometimes, it is so hard to keep up on what dog collars to use for your dogs.

As more breeds of dogs are domesticated, the number of available dog training collars are also steadily increasing. Sometimes, it is so hard to keep up on what dog collars to use for your dogs.

Let me guide you through the maze of Dog training collars. Let us take a look at each of the available collars we can have for our dogs.

First, there is the buckle collar. The buckle collar is really like a buckle that we use for our trousers. Buckle collars have buckle fasteners too to secure it over the dogs neck. The buckle collars for dogs come in different varieties. There are buckle collars that are flat, rolled, made in nylon, or made in leather. The most preferred buckle collars of owners are the ones made in nylon. They are easier to clean, dont shrink and they come in different colors and styles. The leather ones, although it has been popular, is not very easy to clean and if wrongly washed they may shrivel or shrink.

Another Dog Training Collar especially used for flyball training and sled dog racing is the Martingale collars. Martingale collars provide limited choke on the dogs neck. These collars are not so easy to come off as they really fit the neck of your dog in a very nice way. Martingale collars are so flexible and they eliminate the danger of choking even if the dog gets very excited.

Next is the, Limited Choke Collar. These collars are more like the choke chain but they have rings at the end to make room for a few inches of allowance. To use these collars, you just have to ease the dog training collar from the head of your dog and slip it down its neck and tighten it a little.

An outdated Dog training collar is the choke chain. This was formerly used by dog owners before the invention of the other types of collars. Mostly, choke chains were used for punishment and correction. When a dog misbehaves, the owner would just jerk on the leash and the dog would choke, letting him think twice of what he is doing. Before, choke chains were really made of chains but now they are mostly made of nylon. Choke chains really are a torture to dogs, in some cases when the jerking is very hard, it can damage the windpipe of the dog.

An innovation of the choke chain dog training collar is the Snap-around choke. This is like the choke chain but designed so as not to damage a dogs windpipe. The snap-around choke is very snugly fit and it is worn up high the dogs neck and when the leash is jerked, it does not damage the dogs windpipe and does not jolt the dog that much.

Most of the collars we have discussed are worn around the dogs neck. However, there are also dog training collars that are worn on the head. These collars are fit on the dogs head with a leash attached under the dogs muzzle. The principle of this is that, where the dogs head is, its body will follow. The dog may not adjust that easily to wearing these kinds of dog collars and they may look like a pony halter or a muzzle.

Next is the Pronged or the German Pinch dog training collar. This collar is especially made for dogs that are wild, unruly and difficult to control. These collars apply pressure on the protruding areas in the dogs neck therefore it effectively catches the dogs attention. This kind of dog training collar does not damage the dogs windpipe

Another dog training collar is the electronic collar. These collars set off radio waves that shock the dog. The consequence of using this kind of collar is that your dog will always leave on fear and negative anticipation of the next shock. Electronic collars should not be used by novice trainers as they may not know how to properly make use of this collar.
There is also this thing called the no-bark collars. These are generally not really collars but they are used to train dogs not to bark. It is oftentimes very damaging and not beneficial on the dog to use this kind of collar.

There are still so many dog training collars available. They are constantly evolving to make collars as comfortable and as dog-friendly as possible. Other dog training collars include: light-up collars, they light up or glow at night; ornamental collars; schutzhund training collars and many others.

An important thing in choosing a dog training collar is that they must cater to your needs and should not be damaging to any of the dogs anatomy. It is also important to weigh the pros and cons of each kind of collar so that both you and your dog will be benefited from that dog training collar you have chosen.


About the Author: Gina Marie Capatar writes on a variety of topics. She is a freelance writer and the head writer for http://www.isnare.com You may contact her at gina@isnare.com or visit http://outsourcing.isnare.com for writing job proposals.

Wednesday, March 22, 2006

Dog Training: The Technique To Test Whether Your Dog Is Ready To Train And Absolute Fun Ways To Train Your Dog

Coming when called is a vital skill that every dog must learn, both for its own safety and that of those around it. A disobedient dog that refuses to come when called could easily be hit by a car, get into a fight with another dog, or suffer a variety of other bad experiences.

A well trained dog that comes when called can safely be taken out to play in the local park, at the beach, on the hiking trail, or anywhere else the owner and dog may wish to go.

Basic training to come when called is relatively easy and straightforward, and involves providing praise, treats and other perks when the dog does as his owner wants. After these basic come when called training exercises are mastered, there are a number of fun exercises that can be introduced to challenge the dog and pique its interest.

Making training into a fun game is one of the best ways to motivate dog and handler alike. It is easy for training sessions to become routine and boring, and it is important to keep them from degenerating into this state.

Before beginning any food based training exercise, it is important to make sure that the dog is properly motivated and ready to respond to treat based training. Testing the dog is simply a matter of taking a piece of his regular food and waving it in front of the dog's nose. If the dog shows great enthusiasm for the food, it is ready to start the training. If not, it is best to wait until the dog is in a more receptive mood.

The treats that work best for treat based training games like hide and seek are cut up quarter inch or smaller pieces of chicken, cheese or liver. In other words, something your dog will love. It is best to use very small pieces to avoid overfeeding the dog during he training sessions.

One great game for you and another family member or friend to play with your dog is simply back and forth recall. This is a great exercise for teaching your dog to come whenever it is called by a member of the family. Dogs often learn to only respond to one person, and this can be a problem when other people are watching the dog.

That is one reason why professional dog trainers always insist on working with the owner as well as the dog. A well trained dog must learn to respond to whoever is in charge, not just the owner or usual handler.

In the back and forth recall game, two or more people stand approximately ten yards apart, in a safe place like a fenced in yard. One person calls the dog and asks him to sit and say until another person asks the dog to come.

When the dog responds to the command to come, it is rewarded with a treat. Most dogs respond wonderfully to this exercise and love playing this game. When playing the back and forth recall game, it is important that only the person who called the dog be allowed to give the dog a treat.

After the dog has mastered the back and forth recall game, the humans in the game can start to spread further out, thus turning the back and forth recall game into a fun game of hide and seek. The hide and seek game starts with two or more people in the center room of the house. Every time they call the dog to come, they spread out further away from where they started.

As the game continues, one person will be at one end of the house, while another may be at the opposite end. What makes the hide and seek game so much fun for the dog is that he must seek out the person to get the treat, instead of simply running up to a person in plain sight.

This type of seeking behavior appeals to many of the dog's natural instincts. After all, dogs are naturally hunting animals, and seeking out food is second nature to them.

About The Author

Discover How You Can Train Your Dog With Immediate Effective Results Using Proven Simple Steps For FREE

Click Here : http://www.absolute-dog-training.com

Mealtime is the Perfect Time -- for Dog Training, That Is

Eating is one of the most primal activities for dogs. They love it, and they have respect for whoever gives them food (the leader in the pack). You can use your "power" of being pack leader to enhance your dog training efforts -- every day.

The following suggestions will help you establish your role as pack leader and reinforce dog obedience, deferment to your leadership, dog training techniques, and overall attitude and disposition (yours and your dogs).

1. CONSISTENCY

A good habit to have in feeding your dog is consistency. Dogs love routine and food is a very important subject to them.

For example, feed your dog at approximately the same time(s) each day (some modification is fine for weekly schedule changes.) If feeding two times a day, pick two windows of time that you can be consistent with, for example, between 7:00 and 8:00 am and then again between 5:00 and 6:00 pm.

Having a window of time helps prevent anxiety in a dog expecting to be fed at a specific time each day (5:15 pm -- yes, dogs can zero in on a specific time of day like 5:15).

This is a very real concern for dogs and some dogs can fall apart emotionally and physically if they are expecting food at that time and don't get it. Ever hear of the dog that is panting and spastic and throwing up or having diarrhea? This dog is anxious. Setting a window of time and sticking to it will help your dog remain calm. Practice the same routine every day.

2. NO RUNNING BUFFET

A big mistake is to offer up the running buffet, where food is available around the clock. This is actually a pretty common feeding program in many homes because it's simple for the humans -- add food as needed.

So why not do this? Because it leads to an obese, lazy dog who doesn't listen to your commands, respect your leadership position or adhere to rules you've set forth in your dog training.

3. MEALTIME IS DOG TRAINING TIME

Wonderful things happen at mealtime -- for you and Fido. You get the opportunity to have your dog perform (reinforcing all that dog training you've done) for his meal. This could be sit, down, come, place.

So what, you say? Well, this is the easiest way you have of getting your dog's affirmation of you being the leader and reinforcing dog training. If you aren't the leader, guess who is. It will be the demanding, obnoxious dog bossing you around for a meal.

What exactly does it look like? Hold the food bowl in your hand. Your dog may be spastic, jumping, yipping, and pawing at you for the food. This is another dog training opportunity for you -- teaching him to be calmer at mealtimes.

State your command once and wait (good to start with a sit, which is usually the easiest). Your dog sits and the bowl of food goes to the floor with praise for a good sit and a release "OK" that they can move to get the food.

When your dog complies with your command, he has just deferred to your leadership in the pack. (When beginning this program, you may need to help your dog with completing his command and praise warmly and then give food.)

Once your dog has the program down, you can introduce other feeders such as spouse, responsible children, etc to gently let your four-footed family member know her position in the pack.

CONCLUSION

By changing your dog's feeding routine, you change so much more. You get to reinforce all the dog training and dog obedience you've worked so hard on -- and it feels effortless. You get increased respect from your dog for providing the important commodity of food and for being a consistent provider. The more you establish yourself as leader of the pack, the more your dog will want to please you and dog training will be a snap.

About The Author

O'Neal Hendrix is a premier professional dog trainer in Atlanta, GA. Considered a "miracle worker" by clients, vets, groomers, and even other dog trainers, she has helped many human clients create loving and respectful relationships with even the most difficult-to-train dogs. She has a wealth of knowledge about dogs, what works and what doesn't, as seen on her Trainer's Pick Dog Supplies site, http://www.dog-supplies-dog-accessories.com.

Monday, March 20, 2006

Dog Training Video

When training your dog it can be a stressful time, but if you let it, it can be an enjoyable fun time. Many people are turning to aids to help them with their dog training, whether that be a friend, family member, training class book or dog training video.

Dog training videos are possible the next best thing to a personal professional dog training. They offer lots of handy hints, advice and techniques but you can see them put into action so you can tell where you are going wrong. There are thousand dog training videos out there to choose from. Your local supermarket may even sell some, if not your pet store and also the internet is a great choice for purchasing dog training videos. On the internet you can read reviews and personal opinions and success stories about the video that you are going to choose, not to mention there are sites that give you free clips to watch . So sometimes you don't even have to pay to train.

I have tried several different dog training videos and they are all presented differently. Some videos focus on the training from the dog's point of view, with the dog doing the talking and no handler is actually present; these videos are ok but sometimes you need to see the body language of the handler so you know what you are supposed to do.

Other videos come with a handler and a dog in a plain white room where they basically start at point one and walk you through the steps of how to make your dog obey certain commands; these videos although very informative are boring and you lose interest pretty quickly, not only that the dog in the training video has been taught obedience so is therefore not going to show you what accidents could happen or what will happen if your dog decides he isn't interested.

The best type of video you can purchase is one where there are a room full of beginner handlers and young untaught dogs. This video will let you see what to expect completely when trying to teach your dog, so you can be aware of what is going to happen and how to correct things if something goes wrong.

Dog training videos are a great aid in training your dog and they are very inexpensive so why not try some out? Anything that will make your dog listen to you is worth a shot isn't it?

About The Author

William Nabaza of http://www.Nabaza.com specializes in domains, webhosting, webmaster's tools, netpreneur's articles and resources. Stands out as a freebie provider, business opportunity provider and the like. Visit his site at http://www.nabaza.com or contact him directly at william@nabaza.com There's more pet resources here: http://www.nabaza.com/pets.htm

Saturday, March 18, 2006

Dog Training: How To "Lick" Your Dog's Incessant Licking Habit!

Does your dog seem to spend an infinite amount of time licking himself? Why is he doing it? And how do you, as a dog owner, correct that annoying licking habit? Here are five of the most common reasons why your dog might be incessantly licking himself and the solutions to correcting the habit.

1. Your dog might have developed an unrelenting licking habit because he needs a bath.

If your dog spends alot of time outside, romping through the woods, tramping in the mud, rolling in the grass or wading in the nearest stream or pond, he is probably dirty. So, your dog may be constantly licking himself because the dirt is irritating him! Plus, all that outdoor activity may have gotten him infested with ticks, fleas, mites, or lice. Your dog?s incessant licking may be an attempt to rid himself of those nasty varmints!

Give him a bath with a veterinarian-approved flea and tick shampoo. Before bathing him, make sure you brush out all the mats and tangles from his coat or the bathing will make them worse.

2. Your dog might have developed a chronic licking habit because he has a skin disorder.

Some common skin disorders that a dog may develop are mange or dermatitis. Mange is a skin disease in dogs that is caused by various types of mites. The dermatitis could be caused by an allergic reaction to fleas, dust mites, mold or a certain brand of dog food. If you suspect that your dog has a case of mange or dermatitis, your veterinarian will be able to diagnose what the disorder is and prescribe a course of treatment.

3. Your dog might have developed a persistent licking habit because he is under stress.

The stress may be a result of a new adoption, physical abuse, separation anxiety, or even a reaction to a new food.

If you think separation anxiety might be the cause of his stress, there are several methods for solving the problem. Try exposing your dog to being alone for very short periods of time. When your dog has adjusted to being alone for that duration of time, gradually increase your departure period. If you must be away from your dog for a long period of time, while you are away at work, try to find a friend or neighbor who could come over and take him for a walk a couple of times during the day.

Perhaps a new dog in the family is causing the stress? It is very common to experience a period of stress and adjustment when a new dog is brought into a household that has an established pet. One way to help make the transition a little easier is to give your older dog alot of attention and love. It will let him know that he's still a vital part of the family. Just remember that it will take time for your dogs to adjust to one another and be one happy dog family!

Changing your dog?s diet can also cause stress. If you're thinking of feeding your dog a new brand of dry dog food, do it gradually and over a period of four days or longer. On the first day that you change the food, feed your dog one quarter of the new food with three quarters of the old food. Add in another quarter of the new food after a couple of days or so. After another two days, add in another quarter of the new dog food. Finally, after another couple of days or so, you will be able to leave out the old dog food entirely!

If you cannot determine the cause of your dog's stress, talk to your veterinarian. He'll be able to refer you to a dog behaviorist who will be able to determine the cause of your dogs stress. If your dog has severe separation anxiety, an anti-anxiety medication might be considered to alleviate the anxiety. Drugs are not a complete solution, however, and should be used along with a treatment program.

4. Your dog might have developed an incessant licking habit because he has an injury that has resulted in an open wound.

A dog that has developed an injury that has resulted in an open wound will lick himself incessantly in an attempt to clean the wound and keep it free from bacteria. Dog saliva has been proven to kill some germs and when your dog licks an open wound, it will aid in keeping the wound infection free.

Veterinarian treatment may be required if your dog appears to be in pain, the wound contains a foreign material and is deep enough to require stitches, is bleeding excessively or becomes infected.

5. Your dog might have developed a relentless licking habit because he has developed the bad habit of doing so.

Some dogs develop the habit of licking their paws incessantly despite them being clean, uninjured and parasite-free!

Your dog may develop the habit of constantly licking himself because he has alot of nervous energy and no way to alleviate the stress. He also may have learned this behavior because he is bored and this is a way to entertain himself!

Give your dog lots of time to play and run and work off any excess energy. If your dog is well-exercised and happy, he won't feel the need to relentlessly lick himself to relieve stress or boredom!

The information detailed above will help you discover and correct your dog's habit of chronic licking. With careful observation and a little attention to proper grooming, training, along with regular veterinarian visits, you can 'lick' your dog's incessant licking habit!

About the Author: For a free dog training guide containing dog and puppy training tips, articles, books, and information, visit http://freedogtrainingguide.com/

Dog Training: How To House Train Your Dog Effectively

House training is one of the most important parts of training any dog to be a valued part of the family. As with many other aspects of dog training, the best way to house train a dog is to use the dog's own nature to your benefit.

The great thing about dogs, and the thing that can make house training much easier, is that dogs are instinctively very clean animals. Dogs would rather not soil the areas where they sleep and eat. In addition, dogs are very good at developing habits regarding where they like to urinate and defecate.

For example, dogs that are used to eliminating on concrete or gravel will prefer to eliminate there rather than on grass or dirt. It is possible to use these natural canine habits when house training your dog.

Setting up the training area

The first step in house training your dog is to set up your training area. A small, confined space such as a bathroom, or part of a kitchen or garage, works best as a training area. This method of training differs from crate training. Crate training is great for puppies and small dogs, but many larger dogs find a crate too confining.

It is important for the owner to spend as much time in the training area with his or her dog as possible. It is important for the owner to play with the dog in the training area, and to let the dog eat and sleep in that area. The dog should be provided with a special bed in the training area, anything from a store bought bed to a large towel to a large box. At first, the dog may eliminate in this area, but once the dog has recognized it as his or her own space, he or she will be reluctant to soil it.

After the dog has gotten used to sleeping in the bed, the owner can move it around the house, relocating it from room to room. When you are not with your dog, the dog should be confined to the training area.

Setting up the toilet area

The second part of house training is to set up the toilet area for the dog. It is important for the dog to have access to this place every time he or she needs to eliminate. It is also important for the owner to accompany the dog each time until he or she gets into the habit of eliminating in the toilet area. This will ensure that the dog uses only the established toilet area.

A set feeding schedule makes the house training process a lot easier for both the owner and the dog. Feeding the dog on a regular basis will also create a regular schedule for the dog's toilet habits. Once you know when your dog is likely to need to eliminate, it will be simple to guide the dog to the established toilet area.

Once the dog has established a toilet area and is using it on a regular basis, it is very important to not confine the dog without access to the toilet area for long periods of time. That is because if the dog is unable to hold it, he or she may be forced to eliminate in the training area. This habit can make house training much more difficult.

Continuing the house training process

After the dog is consistently eliminating in the toilet area and not soiling the training area, it is time to extend that training area to the rest of the home. This process should be done slowly, starting with one room and slowly expanding to the rest of the house. The area should only be extended once you are sure of the dog's ability to control its bladder and bowels.

When you first expand the training area to a single room, let the dog eat, play and sleep in that room, but only when supervised. When it is not possible to supervise the dog, place it back in the original training area. Then, after the dog has accepted the room as an extension of the original training area, the area can be extended.

Speeding up the process

If this process is too lengthy for your needs, it can be speeded up, but it is important to proceed cautiously. It is easier to take your time up front than to retrain a problem dog later. One way to successfully speed up house training is to praise and reward the dog each and every time it uses the established toilet area. It is also important not to punish the dog for mistakes. Punishment will only confuse the dog and slow down the house training process.

About The Author
Discover How You Can Train Your Dog With Immediate Effective Results Using Proven Simple Steps For FREE

Click Here ; http://www.absolute-dog-training.com

Thursday, March 16, 2006

Easy Dog Training Tips

Here are tips that one should keep in mind to train his dog more easily.

Digging Behavior

Dogs, as social beings, consider digging as their outlet when they are lonely. Nutrient deficiency may also cause this digging. Also known as pica, they sometimes eat the dirt they dig to supplement their health. Spending more time with your dog and giving him a health check will keep his digging behavior at bay.

Potty Training

For dog potty training, a reward-based method will prove to be a more rewarding endeavor. Giving your dog a bit of dog food when it performs a good potty behavior will make it easier for it to remember the good thing that it did.

Repeat and Repeat

Considerable repetitions will give your dog ample time to grasp the command. Consistency is the name of the game. After doing enough repetitions, not helping him with the routine will test if the dog really got it. Three successful attempts in a row is a fine gauge in defining if it's just a fluke or if the dog has actually understood the drill.

Direct and Correct

Communicate to the dog how the drill should be. Be clear on what you want the dog to do. Just commanding the dog without correcting him if he did it wrong is not advisable.

Timing is Gold

Timing means that you should consider the age of the dog when considering how to deal with him. It is best to train dogs while they are still puppies. Always remember that "old dogs can't learn new tricks" saying.

Be More Stubborn Than the Dog

Establishing rapport to the dog must always be in this order: You as the alpha dog (authoritative) and him as the submissive being. Show any sign of fear when he snaps back, and you damage that rapport. Don't let the dog not complete the exercise. This will teach the dog to just hold out long enough for you give in to his preferences.

Be A Good Actor

Provide your puppy with an outlet for his chewing urges. Also, you may practice yelping loudly when your pup starts to chew on you. After yelping, fold your arms and for 10 minutes consider ignoring him. This response is the thing that happens when a pup becomes too rough on other puppies. But depending on your puppy's personality, he may react otherwise, such as biting more. In this case, use a more aggressive approach.

About The Author

Visit http://www.dog-training.usdsavers.com for more information on obedience training for dogs.

Dog Training Book

Does your dog need a good seeing to? Does he act inappropriately? Those are just a couple of questions many people are answering in dog training books. Hundred of people are writing books on dog training as it is such a big market. Many people struggle to train their dogs on their own and people love the fact that they can make a profit out of it. I'm not saying that it is wrong to write a dog training book and charge for it, it's good that there are book resources available.

There are people writing dog training books that have never actually owned a dog and the nonsense they blether is quite funny but then you get the serious writers. People that have had about 30 years of dog training experience are putting their knowledge onto paper and making it available to the whole world which is fantastic. Many people need guidance when it comes to teaching their dog basic training and books are a great way to learn. You just have to be careful you are purchasing a book from a genuine dog trainer and not someone who can paint a pretty simple picture of dog training, because a pretty simple picture is not what dog training is about.

One of my favourite books was "Help! My dog has an attitude" written by Gwen Bohnenkamp. This book is an excellent read and full of great tips and advice. She tells you about the problems that dogs are facing in an ever growing scary world and the pressures it puts on dogs, whether it are trains that are rushing past, cars that are coming to close or even the drain in the middle of the street making that funny loud gurgling noise! There is one thing about her book, it makes you realise that a lot of a dog problems are made by us, we drive our dogs to do these things but we are oblivious to it, thank goodness she doesn't make you feel guilty about it though!

Whereas "The Dog Whisperer" written by Paul Owens is one of the books I was telling you about earlier, where people that have had no experience with dogs put pen to paper. He writes about the simplest of training techniques and then fills his book full of psycho-babble about how to treat your dog and how to love him, that's not what a dog training book should be about. It has had a good few write ups but I think it is not worth the money or time to read it. He starts of going on about how Jesus and Buddha might train their dogs and then goes on about how he felt spiritual enlightenment and a feeling of pure love for his dog. Basically he is a nut case!

Dog training books are easy enough to get and if you enjoy a good read then sit down to one, have a cup of coffee and get prepared for the next days step; actually training your dog!

About The Author

William Nabaza of http://www.Nabaza.com specializes in domains, webhosting, webmaster's tools, netpreneur's articles and resources. Stands out as a freebie provider, business opportunity provider and the like. Visit his site at http://www.nabaza.com or contact him directly at william@nabaza.com There's more pet resources here: http://www.nabaza.com/pets.htm

Monday, March 13, 2006

Dog Training - The Surprising Way To Train Your Dog Not To Fear Loud Noises

Loud noises, such as fireworks, thunder and traffic, are one of the most frequently cited fears given by dog owners. It is natural for some dogs to be fearful of loud noises, but some dogs are so traumatized by thunder, fireworks and other loud noises that they are completely unable to function.

Dogs that display excessive fears or phobias such as these can be a danger to themselves and those around them. Dogs may manifest their fear in self-destructive ways, like slinking under the couch or the bed and getting stuck, for instance. They may also react in ways that are destructive to the home, such as urinating or defecating on the carpet, chewing up favorite items, or barking incessantly. These reactions are often worse when the owner is not at home.

One thing that is hard for many dog owners to understand is that soothing or stroking a dog that is displaying fear is exactly the wrong thing to do. While it is natural to try to calm a fearful dog, to the dog you are rewarding it for being afraid. The dog likes the sound of your voice, likes your petting, and concludes that he has done the right thing by acting afraid. This only makes a bad situation worse.

The best strategy when the dog displays fear when there is a thunderstorm or a fireworks display is to simply ignore the dog. It is of course important to watch the dog to make sure he does not hurt himself, but otherwise just ignore him and let him work through the fear on his own. When you go away, be sure to make sure there is nothing the dog can get stuck under, since fireworks or a thunderstorm can pop up at any time.

A dog that is severely afraid of thunderstorms and other load noises may need to be confined to a single room, or even a crate, for a period of time. After the dog feels safe in his "den", he may be able to deal with his fears a little better. It can be quite a struggle to teach a dog not to be afraid of thunderstorms, firecrackers and other such noises, but it is important that the dog at least be able to control his fears without being destructive to himself or his environment.

Using distraction

Much as magicians use sleight of hand to hide their tricks, so dog owners practice the art of distraction to take their dog's mind off of their fear. For instance, if your dog is afraid of thunderstorms and you know one is on the way, gather some of your dog's favorite toys and get ready for the misdirection.

Of course, your dog will probably know the thunderstorm is on the way before you do. When you see your dog start to display fear, take a few of his favorite toys and try to get him to play. Very fearful dogs may be reluctant to play, but it is important to try nevertheless. Often a few treats can be a good distraction as well. Try buying one of those balls that you can fill with treats or biscuits, and encourage your dog to chase it.

Try playing with your dog every time a thunderstorm is in the forecast. This can start to implant good memories, and these can sometimes replace the fear memories that caused the dog to be afraid of thunderstorms in the first place.

Desensitizing your dog's fear

Desensitization is a highly effective way to deal with phobias and fears in humans, and it can be very effective for dogs and other animals as well. Desensitization involves introducing the dog to small amounts of whatever noises frighten him.

For instance, if the dog is afraid of thunder, try tape recording your next thunderstorm and play it back slowly when the dog is relaxed. Reward the dog for not showing fear responses. If he does show fear responses, do not comfort or soothe him but just ignore him.

This kind of desensitization training can be remarkably effective for some dogs, but it will take lots of patience and hard work. Fears of thunder and fireworks are not always easy to cure.

About The Author

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Dog Training: How To "Lick" Your Dog's Incessant Licking Habit!

Does your dog seem to spend an infinite amount of time licking himself? Why is he doing it? And how do you, as a dog owner, correct that annoying licking habit? Here are five of the most common reasons why your dog might be incessantly licking himself and the solutions to correcting the habit.

1. Your dog might have developed an unrelenting licking habit because he needs a bath.

If your dog spends alot of time outside, romping through the woods, tramping in the mud, rolling in the grass or wading in the nearest stream or pond, he is probably dirty. So, your dog may be constantly licking himself because the dirt is irritating him! Plus, all that outdoor activity may have gotten him infested with ticks, fleas, mites, or lice. Your dog?s incessant licking may be an attempt to rid himself of those nasty varmints!

Give him a bath with a veterinarian-approved flea and tick shampoo. Before bathing him, make sure you brush out all the mats and tangles from his coat or the bathing will make them worse.

2. Your dog might have developed a chronic licking habit because he has a skin disorder.

Some common skin disorders that a dog may develop are mange or dermatitis. Mange is a skin disease in dogs that is caused by various types of mites. The dermatitis could be caused by an allergic reaction to fleas, dust mites, mold or a certain brand of dog food. If you suspect that your dog has a case of mange or dermatitis, your veterinarian will be able to diagnose what the disorder is and prescribe a course of treatment.

3. Your dog might have developed a persistent licking habit because he is under stress.

The stress may be a result of a new adoption, physical abuse, separation anxiety, or even a reaction to a new food.

If you think separation anxiety might be the cause of his stress, there are several methods for solving the problem. Try exposing your dog to being alone for very short periods of time. When your dog has adjusted to being alone for that duration of time, gradually increase your departure period. If you must be away from your dog for a long period of time, while you are away at work, try to find a friend or neighbor who could come over and take him for a walk a couple of times during the day.

Perhaps a new dog in the family is causing the stress? It is very common to experience a period of stress and adjustment when a new dog is brought into a household that has an established pet. One way to help make the transition a little easier is to give your older dog alot of attention and love. It will let him know that he's still a vital part of the family. Just remember that it will take time for your dogs to adjust to one another and be one happy dog family!

Changing your dog?s diet can also cause stress. If you're thinking of feeding your dog a new brand of dry dog food, do it gradually and over a period of four days or longer. On the first day that you change the food, feed your dog one quarter of the new food with three quarters of the old food. Add in another quarter of the new food after a couple of days or so. After another two days, add in another quarter of the new dog food. Finally, after another couple of days or so, you will be able to leave out the old dog food entirely!

If you cannot determine the cause of your dog's stress, talk to your veterinarian. He'll be able to refer you to a dog behaviorist who will be able to determine the cause of your dogs stress. If your dog has severe separation anxiety, an anti-anxiety medication might be considered to alleviate the anxiety. Drugs are not a complete solution, however, and should be used along with a treatment program.

4. Your dog might have developed an incessant licking habit because he has an injury that has resulted in an open wound.

A dog that has developed an injury that has resulted in an open wound will lick himself incessantly in an attempt to clean the wound and keep it free from bacteria. Dog saliva has been proven to kill some germs and when your dog licks an open wound, it will aid in keeping the wound infection free.

Veterinarian treatment may be required if your dog appears to be in pain, the wound contains a foreign material and is deep enough to require stitches, is bleeding excessively or becomes infected.

5. Your dog might have developed a relentless licking habit because he has developed the bad habit of doing so.

Some dogs develop the habit of licking their paws incessantly despite them being clean, uninjured and parasite-free!

Your dog may develop the habit of constantly licking himself because he has alot of nervous energy and no way to alleviate the stress. He also may have learned this behavior because he is bored and this is a way to entertain himself!

Give your dog lots of time to play and run and work off any excess energy. If your dog is well-exercised and happy, he won't feel the need to relentlessly lick himself to relieve stress or boredom!

The information detailed above will help you discover and correct your dog's habit of chronic licking. With careful observation and a little attention to proper grooming, training, along with regular veterinarian visits, you can 'lick' your dog's incessant licking habit!

About the Author: For a free dog training guide containing dog and puppy training tips, articles, books, and information, visit http://freedogtrainingguide.com/

Saturday, March 11, 2006

How To Keep Your Pit Bull's Attention While Dog Training

There are certain rules that you should follow every single time you work on training your Pit Bull Terrier. One of these things is making sure that you are training him in an area where there aren't lots of distractions. Distractions can be an important tool used for training your Pit Bull Terrier, however it is important to get the basics down before doing so.

When your dog has mastered the basic commands that you've taught him and is excelling in his obedience training exercises without distractions, it is at this point that you can begin introducing outside distractions to challenge him more. Doing this is a great dog training strategy that will teach him to follow your commands even when there are other things going on around him.

Your ultimate goal is to have your Pit Bull obey your commands regardless of location or environment. As your dog progresses in his training, you'll be able to give him a command in the middle of a crowded area and he'll obey you. This is an important thing for not only his safety, but the safety of other people and animals as well. Having a well-trained dog can eliminate many of the horror stories you hear related to owning a dog.

You should also learn to prevent your dog's mistakes by learning what makes him falter. For example, if you?ve given the sit stay command to your Pit and he starts to get up, correct him immediately so he learns. You?ll definitely know when he is getting ready to break the command by the signs he gives. He may bite or lick his paw, act uneasy and figity, etc. Whatever your dog does when his attention is beginning to stray, recognize it and work on regaining his attention.


About the Author: To learn all about Pit Bull dogs and training a Pit Bull, visit http://www.pitbullsrevealed.com/ today.

A Guide To Dog Training Collars

As more breeds of dogs are domesticated, the number of available dog training collars are also steadily increasing. Sometimes, it is so hard to keep up on what dog collars to use for your dogs.

As more breeds of dogs are domesticated, the number of available dog training collars are also steadily increasing. Sometimes, it is so hard to keep up on what dog collars to use for your dogs.

Let me guide you through the maze of Dog training collars. Let us take a look at each of the available collars we can have for our dogs.

First, there is the buckle collar. The buckle collar is really like a buckle that we use for our trousers. Buckle collars have buckle fasteners too to secure it over the dogs neck. The buckle collars for dogs come in different varieties. There are buckle collars that are flat, rolled, made in nylon, or made in leather. The most preferred buckle collars of owners are the ones made in nylon. They are easier to clean, dont shrink and they come in different colors and styles. The leather ones, although it has been popular, is not very easy to clean and if wrongly washed they may shrivel or shrink.

Another Dog Training Collar especially used for flyball training and sled dog racing is the Martingale collars. Martingale collars provide limited choke on the dogs neck. These collars are not so easy to come off as they really fit the neck of your dog in a very nice way. Martingale collars are so flexible and they eliminate the danger of choking even if the dog gets very excited.

Next is the, Limited Choke Collar. These collars are more like the choke chain but they have rings at the end to make room for a few inches of allowance. To use these collars, you just have to ease the dog training collar from the head of your dog and slip it down its neck and tighten it a little.

An outdated Dog training collar is the choke chain. This was formerly used by dog owners before the invention of the other types of collars. Mostly, choke chains were used for punishment and correction. When a dog misbehaves, the owner would just jerk on the leash and the dog would choke, letting him think twice of what he is doing. Before, choke chains were really made of chains but now they are mostly made of nylon. Choke chains really are a torture to dogs, in some cases when the jerking is very hard, it can damage the windpipe of the dog.

An innovation of the choke chain dog training collar is the Snap-around choke. This is like the choke chain but designed so as not to damage a dogs windpipe. The snap-around choke is very snugly fit and it is worn up high the dogs neck and when the leash is jerked, it does not damage the dogs windpipe and does not jolt the dog that much.

Most of the collars we have discussed are worn around the dogs neck. However, there are also dog training collars that are worn on the head. These collars are fit on the dogs head with a leash attached under the dogs muzzle. The principle of this is that, where the dogs head is, its body will follow. The dog may not adjust that easily to wearing these kinds of dog collars and they may look like a pony halter or a muzzle.

Next is the Pronged or the German Pinch dog training collar. This collar is especially made for dogs that are wild, unruly and difficult to control. These collars apply pressure on the protruding areas in the dogs neck therefore it effectively catches the dogs attention. This kind of dog training collar does not damage the dogs windpipe

Another dog training collar is the electronic collar. These collars set off radio waves that shock the dog. The consequence of using this kind of collar is that your dog will always leave on fear and negative anticipation of the next shock. Electronic collars should not be used by novice trainers as they may not know how to properly make use of this collar.
There is also this thing called the no-bark collars. These are generally not really collars but they are used to train dogs not to bark. It is oftentimes very damaging and not beneficial on the dog to use this kind of collar.

There are still so many dog training collars available. They are constantly evolving to make collars as comfortable and as dog-friendly as possible. Other dog training collars include: light-up collars, they light up or glow at night; ornamental collars; schutzhund training collars and many others.

An important thing in choosing a dog training collar is that they must cater to your needs and should not be damaging to any of the dogs anatomy. It is also important to weigh the pros and cons of each kind of collar so that both you and your dog will be benefited from that dog training collar you have chosen.

About the Author: Gina Marie Capatar writes on a variety of topics. She is a freelance writer and the head writer for http://www.isnare.com You may contact her at gina@isnare.com or visit http://outsourcing.isnare.com for writing job proposals.