Schutzhund: Training And Evaluating The German Shepherd

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Schutzhund: Training And Evaluating The German Shepherd
by John P Jackson

As you go through life, you are bound to see German Shepherds working in a number of careers. Some are guard dogs, some are therapy dogs, and some work in law enforcement. German Shepherds are immeasurably popular in the working field because their extreme intelligence makes them highly trainable, and their strength and agility makes them capable of performing most tasks. In Germany, standards for German Shepherd breeding and performance are much stricter. A training program called "Schutzhund" was created in the 20th century as a means by which to train and regulate the performance of the breed.

The Schutzhund training and judging process is threefold. There are three separate levels a German Shepherd must complete to become certified in Schutzhund. In the first level, known cleverly as Schutzhund One, the dog in question has to determine eligibility by undergoing a temperament test called a "B Test". Most handlers will go through basic obedience and socialization training with their German Shepherd prior to attempting the B Test, as it gauges the dog's ability to obey their owner and interact with distractions such as people or other animals. If a particular dog ever shows signs of fear or fear-based aggression, he or she will be disqualified from the Schutzhund process immediately. Thus, it is important for those pursuing Schutzhund certification to provide proper etiquette training for the dogs from puppyhood, lest the be disqualified and forbidden to breed, compete, or be registered in Germany.

Besides the temperament test, each level of Schutzhund focus on three major areas: obedience, tracking ability, and willingness to act as a protector. As the levels progress from one to three, the German Shepherd must complete more difficult versions of each task and will be judged with more scrutiny.

Obedience training and testing is performed in an open field. Dogs are usually worked in teams of two, though each dog will take turns performing. Obedience testing in Schutzhund is rather similar to obedience testing in the American Kennel Club, with more stringent regulations. The dogs are judged on their ability to perform a battery of obedience commands, specifically heeling and staying commands, and are tested for patient and whether or not they are gunshy.

Tracking testing in Schutzhund is also similar to tracking competitions and trials found in the Unite States, only more specific. Schutzhund candidates will follow a lengthy track locating specifically and strategically placed items along the track. Once the item has been found, the dog is taught to lay on his stomach and hold the item between his forepaws, thus showing or telling his handler than the object in question has been recovered. Judging in Schutzhund tracking is based on how quickly and efficiently the German Shepherd is capable of tracking, locating, and reporting the various items on the track.

The third and final phase of Schutzhund training and testing is based around protection. The handler will have an assistant, typically in a padded safety suit, create a mock attack on the handler. The German Shepherd is evaluated based on his willingness to protect his handler/owner, and his response to commands such as attack and release, and the efficiency and obedience with which these commands are performed.

Schutzhund training and testing, while containing many similar elements to American dog trials, training, and competition, is a much more stringent and specific method of canine evaluation. In Germany. Schutzhund testing is so respected that no dog can be bred unless it is certified in Schutzhund.

About the Author:

This German Shepherd article is a part of GreatDogSite, the web's best resource for dog information!

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The Best Dog Training Techniques

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The Best Dog Training Techniques
by Luis Javier

Make The Pups Know Who`s In Charge

Sporting dogs that are alert, active and intelligent have historically been used by hunters to locate, flush or retrieve game from land or water. Smaller dogs may be hurt by unintentionally rough children, especially those under the age of 3, but a well-trained smaller dog can be a great companion for gentler kids.

Its name origins from the Latin terra, meaning "for earth", most terriers were originally bred to "go to ground" after burrowing vermin, larger rodents and even foxes. If it weren't for the fact that most terriers, such as the Cairn and the Norfolk, are fairly small, their tenacious nature and boundless energy would make them hard to control.

The crossing of bulldogs and terriers for the express purpose of creating fighting dogs has produced several dog breeds that can be dangerous in the wrong hands. Generally, sturdier, active dogs love kids, but unless your dog is well-trained, he may pose a risk to your children.

Two purebred dogs are sometimes deliberately crossed in hopes of creating a new breed such as the cockapoo, which is one part cocker spaniel, one part poodle. Working Dog Breeds. Often used interchangeably, the terms "mixed breed" and "crossbreed" have slightly different meanings. In true mixed breeds, the dog's ancestry is next to impossible to predict, although many people can't help but try to guess.

THE ANATOMY OF A CANINE But among domestic dogs, selective breeding has produced a number of different ear types, each with its own names, courtesy of dog breeders, fanciers and kennel clubs. Like all mammals, the canid family is able to control body temperature through various physical functions. Pricked Ears. Coat. How would our dog eat? Take their mechanical grinding machine into your consideration too- their teeth. Hairless. Well, here's the information you need to know: Tongue.

WHY THE HELP? Including sit, stay, come, fetch, stop, shake, speak, kiss, lie down, and more. You would have a well trained obedient dog that obeys you.

About the Author:

Here are The dog training & obedience secrets That You Need Right Now To Have A Happy And Obedient dog. Go To : Dog Training

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Tips For House Training a Puppy - 3Tips You Should Be Aware Of When House Training

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Tips For House Training a Puppy - 3Tips You Should Be Aware Of When House Training
by Jay Even

Just when you thought it was safe to go home, you walk inside and take off your coat. Then you walk into the living room and you see it. Yep your puppy has gone and done his business on your new carpet again. So for what seems to be the third time this week, you clean up his mess. You then think to your self that you are sick of doing this and your house training isn't working. You then start searching for some tips for house training a puppy. You get to work and find these tips to be very effective.

The reason they are effective is that even though they are simple, these tips for house training a puppy are the right way to train. When you start out, the first thing you should know is that training takes patients. You must continue to do it every day at the same time in order for it to be effective. To get you started, I've provided 3 tips for house training a puppy.

1. Praise your puppy. Praise is the one way your puppy will know for sure that he is doing what you want. So when you take him outside to his bathroom spot, you should praise him happily while he is doing his business. This will encourage your puppy to do it again.

2. Realize your puppy will make mistakes. If your puppy gos in the house during his first few weeks of training, do not scold him. Instead, clean up the mess and say nothing. Silence inside and praise outside will help your puppy figure out what is right and what is wrong. You should also disinfect the area that they made the mistake with a pet urine deodorizer or it will leave a scent that your puppy will pick up, and will end up going to the bathroom there again.

3. You should also have a set time that you feed your puppy. Feeding him at the same time every day and then taking him outside to do his business will establish a routine for your puppy and he will be more incline not to go in your house.

As you can see from these tips for house training a puppy, praise and routine are very important for your puppy. You should continue praising when they go outside, and after a few weeks you will see improvement. If you happen to catch him going to the bathroom in your house after the first couple of weeks, you should respond with a firm "NO" and bring him outside. This will help your puppy realize his mistake, and soon you will have a well trained dog. If you like these tips for house training a puppy, be sure to visit http://www.squidoo.com/puppy_house_training_guide

About the Author:

Jay Even is a dog trainer and breeder. If you would like to see more great ways to house train your puppy, visit http://www.squidoo.com/puppy_house_training_guide

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Never Let Your Dog Beg For Attention and Food

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Never Let Your Dog Beg For Attention and Food
by Jeff Nenadic

Most dogs seem to have the begging habit where they beg for attention, love and food and continue to do so until they are taught not to beg. Some owners find this behavior cute while others blow up easily whenever the dog begs and especially when they can see and smell delicious food.

Is it wrong for a dog to beg?

The dog may look cute while begging, but it is not good to encourage the begging for it is actually a demanding or aggressive behavior in disguise. Besides, it helps the dog to slowly gain control over the pack which is the family here. The dog sees itself as a member of the family pack. Hence, it may look amusing to see your dog rolling over its back and expecting you to rub its belly whenever it sees you or it may look painful to see the dog looking sadly at you, while you are eating but this behavior can become hostile and aggressive.

How much hostile can the dog become?

If you have an impression that your dog will not bite your hand if you refuse to give a small food morsel every time it begs, you can be wrong. As in the case of a person, who always fed the puppy something by hand at the time of eating be it pieces of bread at breakfast or sandwiches at lunch or bacon at dinner time. It was a routine done daily.

With the passing months, the puppy grew up into a dog and larger too. As it is the person did not expect that the dog would develop a dominant leadership by feeding it whenever it begged, but later on realized the gravity of the situation after a painful and shocking incident. Once, the person decided not to feed the dog as usual during the meals and ignored its pleas and whines. The dog became aggressive and barked ferociously. Then, suddenly without warning the dog jumped at the persons plate and snatched the food along with a piece of the persons finger. This was unexpected but it happened.

Proper training can make the dog stop begging

The above incident may look far fetched, but it shows what a dog can resort to if it does not get what it wants. Hence, this is a serious problem and needs to be looked into and checked as early as possible. The dog needs to be trained on the rules of begging.

Therefore during the meal times, train your pet dog to quietly sit and wait in another separate area while the family eats their food. It should not neither come near the table nor beg for food. This will take time but slowly the dog shall learn to sit at one place until the end of the meal. After the end of the meal and when everyone has had their fill, you can give the dog its meal in its own food bowl. Also remember to praise your dog for following the rules.

About the Author:

Written by Jeff Nenadic from My Dog Shop - check for current specials on chew toys online.

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Puppy Training Advice - Don't Make Mistakes - Training For The Trainer

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Puppy Training Advice - Don't Make Mistakes - Training For The Trainer
by Phillip Quirin

There are many different breeds of dogs and no one of them has a monopoly on brains. Puppies are idividuals just like humans. Some may be bold and some may be shy, but most of them can be molded, in fact a lot of puppies mimic the behavior of their owners. Some of the best puppie training advice is to know what you are doing as a trainer.

One of the first things that you should concentrate on is to teach the puppy its name. Pick a simple name and use it always when you talk to your puppy so that the puppy gets used to hearing it. Make sure that the puppy connects hearing its name with something good like praise or a treat. Start the training gently and don't be harsh. Puppies and all dogs learn through repetition so you must be patient, you probably won't see results overnight. Talk to your puppy a lot and establish communication with it. This relationship will draw the two of you closer together. A good piece of puppy training advice that will save you a lot of frustration is, if the puppy can't learn a certain thing, switch to something else. Another tip is to make the lessons brief so that the puppy doesn't get bored.

As was mentioned before, you must reward or reinforce the puppy for the response that you want. This can be with praise and treats or just praise. Remember to give the reward immediately as a puppy's memory is very short. If you have to correct or discipline, a disgusted voice is usually enough. If you need more force, make a startling noise by hitting a rolled up newspaper against your knee or some object. Avoid using your hand to hit the dog, if you must, make sure that it is just a light tap.

Basic training consists of name recognition, the "No" command, "Quiet" and house training (housebreaking). Talk to the puppy a lot and start with only a few minutes a day of training and lots of play time. The best puppy training advice is to keep at it, be patient and don't let either you or the puppy get bored. Follow these basic steps and you should be on your way to successfully training your puppy.

About the Author:

Did you know that without some basic PUPPY TRAINING ADVICE that you could make mistakes when you train your puppy by training bad behaviors along with the good ones? Learn how not to. FREE 6 DAY COURSE

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Stop a Puppy From Nipping

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Stop a Puppy From Nipping
by David Beart

Nipping puppies are a common occurrence. Puppies play hard with their littermates and when you bring your puppy home he transfers this behavior to you. Those sharp little teeth really hurt, however, and this is a behavior that needs to be nipped in the bud.

Nipping puppy behavior has nothing to do with teething or dominance. It is simply puppy play behavior that has gone wild. Buying chew toys and offering them to your puppy won't do anything to deter them from mouthing people or teach the puppy to have a safe mouth around children. Safe chew toys are a great idea and important to have but they teach puppies how to chew on puppy toys instead of people things. They don't teach puppies not to bite people.

Mouthing and nipping is usually a sign that the puppy is hyperstimulated and wants to play. They simply need to learn to play in a gentler way. Nipping and mouthing on people and having the people tell the puppy that it HURTS teaches the puppy the critical lesson of "bite inhibition" so they can learn better control over their aim with their mouth. Bite inhibition is something that puppies also learn from their dams and their littermates. Their control over their biting usually improves over time if you properly and consistently reinforce the message that you send. Your puppy will get better emotional self-control and physical coordination.

This is exactly the same lesson that 2- and 3-year-old human children have to learn about playing with other children: be gentle or no one will play with you. The goal is to have the puppy become gentler and gentler with their mouth so that being soft with their mouth becomes a habit. Or a skill. It takes time to build a habit.

You teach a puppy to be more gentle with his mouth by shrieking with pain when he nips you. You need to overdo it. Really let your puppy know that it HURTS. Follow this by immediately leaving the room and closing the door so your puppy cannot continue the biting. Some puppies may try to run after you because they still want to play so be sure to leave the room and close the door. Start out by shrieking over a painful nip and work your way to up a shriek about any tooth-to-skin contact at all. By the time your puppy is 4 1/2-5 months old they should have a very soft mouth if you apply this method consistently. This is the same method that is taught in most puppy kindergarten classes.

You are basically doing the same thing that your puppy's mother or littermates would do when he nipped them. His mother and littermates would cry out and stop playing with your puppy if he bit them too hard. He would learn that if he played too rough there would be no more play.

If you are playing with a puppy who starts to become overstimulated or who shows signs of nipping you can take a time-out. Stand up, turn your back on your puppy, cross your arms and look away. Stand still, even if your puppy jumps on you. Don't acknowledge your puppy. Don't speak to him. Count to 30. If your puppy has calmed down you can praise him and resume play. If he hasn't calmed down by a count of 30 try another count to 30. If that still doesn't work you should calmly leave the room, with the puppy still in the room. If your puppy is still showing signs of being overstimulated you should do a time-out with your puppy in his crate for 2-5 minutes. These are ways of teaching your puppy emotional self-control. Your puppy learns to calm himself down in order to get you to play with him some more.

If you teach your puppy using these methods it should solve your problems with nipping and becoming overstimulated when playing. You want your puppy to grow up to be a dog who has good control of his mouth and teeth and who doesn't become overstimulated and accidentally bite.

Time-outs can be used effectively when your dog is getting out of control. If your dog is barking excessively a time-out in his crate for a few minutes may get his mind off barking. Sometimes a dog may bark wildly at a squirrel or something else outside. Your dog may be overstimulated at these times and a time-out can help calm him down. There are some good ways to try to discourage barking behavior but a time-out may be the only thing that breaks the barking sometimes.

About the Author:

David Beart is the owner of the Professors House. Our site covers family related issues from raising children to dog health, relationships to cooking.

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Mastering Dog Obedience

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Mastering Dog Obedience
by Tom Houser

Dogs are definitely man's best friend. They could develop dog obedience to their master's instructions if the dog trainer or owner is able to communicate with them in a proper manner. Many pet owners become easily frustrated that at their first attempt, their pooch would not listen to them and just continue on its activities. Well you are not alone, many other dog owners and even experienced dog trainers have been through that situation! It is only a matter of mastery, time and proper tricks on how it is done.

Through collective advice from other trainers and owners, I have come up with a list of dog obedience tricks and tips that you might find valuable in disciplining your pooch.

Be Considerate

You know that dogs and other animals have shorter attention spans that humans so put yourself into their situation and imagine just how frustrating dog obedience training for them could be. Most animals are easily trained when they are given treats prior to the training so you need to prepare some good treats prior to the giving him instructions.

Be Consistent

Do not give too many instructions to your dog or simply give up on a trick because it did not get it at first. Be consistent in all your dog obedience training because eventually it will learn to follow every single command you will give him. It would take much more than time for them to realize and understand you since they communicate very differently than humans do. In addition, giving too many instructions will only confuse your dog and he will end up not following every single instruction you will give because you fail to help him recognize the urgency and importance of your command. Once he is able to learn a trick, be sure to reward him and let him register and retain the new trick by reviewing the tricks with him before proceeding to a new one.

Be the Boss

Make it clear to your dog that you are the boss and that it needs to follow your instructions. Being the boss means you have to be firm in giving the commands yet remember not to be harsh. Animals in general love to follow owners that are gentle to them.

Those are just some of the many things that you need to remember when you are looking to be successful in your dog obedience training. Remember that dogs will obey your commands once you are considerate, firm yet not harsh and reward them once they do things right.

About the Author:

Tom has been a dog lover since he got a German Shepherd puppy when he was a little boy. Now, he has two dogs, and he hopes to pass on his experience gained over the years. Click here for more information on dogs. http://www.mydogbasics.com
By T. Houser

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10 Ideas You Never Thought About How to Get A Dog to Stop Barking

Professional Dog Training


10 Ideas You Never Thought About How to Get A Dog to Stop Barking
by Mel Chris

Are you keeping a dog at home? If so, maybe you had facing lots of problems before and one of them is the excessive dog barking. Now, I am going to provide you with 10 simple ideas or steps on how to get a dog to stop barking.

So here it is:

1. Your dog is barking and there must be a reason for that. Does he need yard access? Is a cat outside of your window? Or he just barks for fun?

2. Barking excessively is just like yelling. Don't yell at them, it is just like you're encouraging him.

3. Maybe he wants to tell you something ; about hunger, thirst, or elimination. Then you must check your dog's basic needs.

4. Is there something motivated him to bark? He bored? You can make a dog door for easy outdoor access or close the shades.

5. Have you heard about citronella no-bark collar? Dogs dislike it whenever it sprays citronella. It is safe and not cruel.

6. You should have trained him to obey you on simple command such as barking. When he bark at your command, then he will learn how to be quieted on command as well.

7. Say "sshh" and not yelling "sshh" at him. Treat him like your family; real family. Thank him, talk to him, and praise him.

8. It's working ; say "sshh" after calling him and he is quiet, soon he indicates that "sshh" a command for quiet.

9. Just like human, dogs love to be praised. "Good" is simple but effective. Praise him often and give him reward for the good behavior.

10. Soft music also can help. When you're leaving your dog at home, turn on the music and close the drapes and blinds.

Most dogs are prone to excessive barking if haven't been trained properly at the early age. It is a MUST to learn how to train a dog. It is simple and everyone can do it including you. I hope that you can get your dog to stop barking.

For more natural ways and complete guide to train your dog, just visit me here. You don't have to pay for a dog training guide unless it is recommended by expert.

About the Author:

Mel Chris is an author of the "Stop Your Dog From Barking+ 100 More Tips" online. She is a dog expert from California and she used to co-operate with 12 dog experts to publish lots of articles, tips, and free e-book online. For more info please visit her website, blog and lens.

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Training Your Puppy

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Training Your Puppy
by Susan Westingham

Whether you want to kennel train your pup to house train him or to get him to stop chewing on the furniture and shoes, there are basic things to do. Firstly, though, you need to determine what you're going to train your pup in first. If you try to tackle too many things at once, especially with a younger dog, you can sometimes end up confusing them instead of helping them break bad habits.

Chewing is perhaps the easiest to tackle first, though you have to be consistent with this all throughout his first year or so, or anytime you see him defaulting back to the wrong behavior. The easiest way to train him is to have a selection of chew toys available in his kennel for him to play with. Then, if you see him chewing on a shoe or something else he shouldn't have such as clothing, or furniture (my dog used to love the bathroom trashcan! She'd wrestle the flip lid off and run all over the house with it, after having upset the trashcan first that is,) take it off him, say 'no' in a firm tone then take him to his kennel and show him his chew toys. Pretty soon he should learn that chew toys are for playing with and chewing, and not anything else he sees laying around the house.

House-breaking your pup is a little more work in the beginning, but well worth the effort you put into it. Dogs will not eliminate in the same place they sleep, even wild dogs won't do it--they'll go outside of their lair to do their business. You can take advantage of this fact.

When you see your dog getting restless, if he's walking around anxiously and whining it's a sure sign that he wants to eliminate. When you see this, quickly go and take him outside and wait for him to do his business, then praise him very loudly and vocally. If you consistently do this, you'll soon find that he is house trained and he'll only go outside from then on. The main key with this is consistency on your part though. You can't be lax one day then really onto it the next day. That will just confuse the pup, and he won't learn anything.

It is possible for even a young pup to be pretty much totally house trained in a few days, if you are very consistent with your part. You also need to realize that pups can only hold their bladders for a very short time, perhaps two hours at the most. And they always need to eliminate after they eat or drink. If you take them outside at these times they'll soon learn what's expected of them. Another tip is to try to take them to the same spot in the yard or outside each time, as that also helps make it easier to train them.

So, you see dog kennel training isn't that difficult to do, and once it's done you'll be happier for it, as will your dog.

About the Author:

Susan, pet lover for many years, is more than happy to share tips with you on Building the Dog Kennel and Run on her Website.


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Stop Dog Barking

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Stop Dog Barking
by Keith Jones

Do you lie awake at night listening to your dog barking? Have you had run-ins with neighbours about the dog barking when you go out ? Both of these are quite normal situations and it is quite possible to train any dog to be quiet when you command it to be silent

Dogs bark for a number of reasons - lets go through the most common ones.

! : replying to another dog barking 2 : barking at a noise in the night 3 : Barking because they are lonely 4 : Barking to protect You 5 : barking at the mailman 6 : barking to attract a mate 7 : Barking out of Boredom 8 : barking at the door. 9 : A Vacuum Cleaner or Hair Dryer 10 : An unexpected new Object (my wife's Handbag is one of those things strange Shape and eats things !)

Barking is quite normal for any dog. It is their only main method of communication. At Dawn all dogs bark in response to other dogs. It is very similar to the Dawn Chorus of Birds - a way to let other dogs know that they are there and that this is THEIR property This normally only lasts a few seconds and most of us can put up with that.

So what is the best way to stop a barking dog ? In the case of the dawn chorus that is difficult but it is possible to stop it with a gentle command - QUIET. In fact that is the only command that you should use with your dog for that purpose. The first thing to do is to start training your dog at the front door. To your dog it is a magical portal to the outside world and is the barrier between you (the Master) and the dangers outside. So when a doorbell rings it dashes up to the door to warn you of a presence on the outside. Your Dog imagines itself to be like an Arthurian Knight protecting its family against outsiders, dragons and other dangers.

The easy way to stop this is to get your partner or another friend to stand outside the door and press the bell. Your dog will rush to the door. It is YOUR job to grab hold of the dog and say QUIET in a firm manner to the dog. You have to make quite sure you do not shout or the dog will think you are just joining in its plan to frighten off the intruder. At the same time firmly grasp the dogs muzzle from behind so that your fingers interlace around the muzzle and enfold the muzzle. The Dog will eventually stop shouting at which point you should give lots of praise and their favourite treat. This is the best way to stop a barking dog.

Things to Remember :

Training Takes Time

You are training yourself as well as your dog Your dog is like an untutored child. The younger you start training the quicker and better the result. The Technique I Use Is a simple QUIET. This is quite separate from the other commands of SIT , STAY and WATCH ME

Your dog may take several sessions to get it just right - that is normal. It will however eventually get the idea and this will be the way you stop dog baking without further problems.

Keywords : stop dog barking, stop a dog barking, stop a barking dog,how to stop dog barking, stop dog from barking, make a dog stop barking

About the Author:

Keith Jones is a Photographer and Writer in Ireland and he also breeds Cocker Spaniels

For further ideas on how to stop your dog barking please visit http://spanielcare.com/blog/stop-my-dog-barking/

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The Different Types Of Dog training Collars

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The Different Types Of Dog training Collars
by Thierry babineaux

Dogs bark for several reasons and it is in their nature to bark whenever they sense an intruder or when they have other problems. The ugly thing about barking is that it can become very annoying if our dog barks most of the time and without any obvious reasons. A Dog training collar is the best solution for your dog and it was created in order to solve the behavior problems of your dog.

Dog training collars are recommended if your dog has developed a barking problem. The Dog training collar is used to stop a dog that barks for apparently no reason at all. Studies have shown that the painless collars have much better results than the ones that inflict pain. Dog training collars need to be purchased with precaution and dog owners are advised to do some research regarding collars before actually buying one, because nowadays there are a lot of types of collars on the market, designed for different purposes. Dog training collars that can be easily found are: barking collars with electric charge, barking collars with spray control, barking collars with vibration control and choke collars.

A Dog training collar with electric charge is a type of collar that activates an electrical charge that will stop once the dog no longer barks. These collars have several levels of electric charge intensity which vary from one manufacturer to another. It must be mentioned that the electric charge does not hurt the animal in any way and that these types of collars are not recommended in the case of dogs which weigh less than eight pounds. Dog training collars can be easily adjusted according to the dog's weight and size.

A Dog training collar with spray control has a vibration sensor that emits an annoying citrus spray that dogs seem to dislike very much. This spray is harmless but efficient in the case of dogs which have a barking problem. These types of collars are considered more humane and more efficient than the others, being recommended by dog specialists. Dog training collars with vibration control emit an ultrasonic sound that interrupts barking immediately by startling the animal, while choke collars are indicated only when the dog owner has the time to train his dog or when he resorts to a dog trainer that will do this.

It is very important to keep in mind that barking collars should be used only when your canine friend has a problem. Dog training collar may be easily removed once the dog no longer presents barking problems. We recommend you to consult a dog specialist before buying a barking collar. He will identify your dog's problem and he will tell you what type of collar should be used in his case. Do not hesitate to use barking collars as long as they are necessary, since they are very efficient and they do not harm your dog in any way.

About the Author:

Dogs are certainly man's best friends and for this reason most dog owners treat their pets with the proper attention and dedication. As much as you love your dog and even if you consider him a dear member of your family, sometimes his barking becomes a problem both for your family and for neighbours.

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Dog training and dealing with house training issues

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Dog training and dealing with house training issues
by John Fields

Using the dogs own instincts is the best house training method for your pet. This is what Crate training does. You would leave the dog confined to a small area of you house. Since dogs are naturally clean, they will not want to soil in their "den" area.

You can train any age dog using these techniques, as they have worked well for all dogs. There are mistakes that many do when trying to follow this type of house training philosophy. Don't be inconsistent with the time that you feed your dog and do not rush the process. Rewarding the animal is good practice and this can cause the dog to be trained quicker but do not move too fast.

When your dog has an "accident" it can be because the animal is in his den for too long a period or the den area is too big. It could mean that your pet has not understood yet that this den area is its bed. It could also be that the dog might have a urinary infection or another medical issue. Also it could mean that your dog is bored. Being bored might cause it to drink more water and urinate more. There are other signs of boredom as well. When your dog destroys things or nibbles on things he is not supposed to, he might be bored.

Your dog might think of its den in a negative way. This might be because the den was not introduced to your pet in the right way. He might feel trapped and may show this by whining, barking or by biting things.

Get to know your dog and its needs. Make sure that the den area is safe and pleasant for your pet and provide a toilet area that is known to the dog.

About the Author:

One of the biggest reasons dogs are given to shelters is because of "going" in the wrong place. Learn more about How to Train Your Dog at http://www.trainpuppydog.com

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Dog Training: Benefits To Pets And Their Owners

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Dog Training: Benefits To Pets And Their Owners
by Debbie Trainer

There seem to be two different outcomes with regard to owning a dog - the dog can give you unconditional love, hours of entertainment and lots of exercise, or it can be a complete nuisance to the owners and everyone it comes into contact with.

The excitement of bringing a new puppy or dog into your family can mask the fact that there is much hard work and patience required from everyone, in the weeks and months ahead. In fact, under the right circumstances, the dog will never stop learning during the whole of its life.

Whether or not a dog behaves in an acceptable manner is partly due to its breed, but mainly due to the quality of the training it receives. This is why prospective dog owners need to decide whether they have the time and patience required to train a dog effectively. Most people lead very busy lives, and it can seem as if there are not enough hours in the day, even without having a dog.

Training should begin on the first day, even though the puppy may be very tiny. Already it has been learning from its mother and siblings, and the puppy will now be dependent on you for all its needs. This is the perfect opportunity to establish your relationship with your dog. For example, if the puppy has had all the vaccinations necessary and you are able to take it out for a walk, this would be a good time to let it off the lead (as long as you are in a safe environment). Your puppy will realise that he needs you and will follow you. If this routine is started early on in the puppy's life, the puppy should recall very well when it is older and has a mind of its own!

Most dogs need the stimulation of play and training, and if the training is carried out in short sessions, the two can be combined very successfully. As the puppy gets older, you can begin to emphasise when the training session ends and the play begins, but to begin with it is a good idea to make the sessions less formal.

The dog must see you as the 'pack leader' but it is important that everyone in the family takes the time to train him, so that he understands his place in the family and feels secure. This will enhance the bond he has with everyone and he will feel like part of your 'pack.'

Dog training is not just about obedience, but equally importantly, it is about communicating with your dog, so that you understand and respect each other. This builds a bond between you, and allows the dog to lead a much fuller life.

About the Author:

Debbie Trainer is the proud owner of Lucy, the mad Labradoodle. To meet Lucy, and for Labradoodle fun and information please visit http://madlabradoodles.blogspot.com

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Housebreak Your Puppy Dog- Potty Training Tips

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Housebreak Your Puppy Dog- Potty Training Tips
by Deborah Gewock

You have a new puppy-dog. Now what? Oh yeah, housebreaking him. So, what approach should you take? They are like children and need your patience during this trying process. Potty training is a first and crucial step to training. The sooner you get started, the sooner you can go on to other types of training.

All puppy dogs are different. What works for one does not necessarily work for another when potty training. Newspaper training is one way to go but it will be harder to break him from that to going outside. That is a confusing transition for a puppy dog. It is usually better to skip that step. From experience, I have found a better approach.

Walk him first thing in the morning.

Be sure to take him out after eating or drinking.

If you play with your puppy dog in the house, take him outside after the exercise.

You really need to watch his behavior through the day (if possible). If you pay enough attention you will learn the body language associated with him needing to go potty.

When you notice him sniffing around and circling, it usually means he is looking for a place to go. Get him outside immediately by picking him up and taking him outside.

Take him out frequently during the day. If he doesn't need to go potty, at least he will have the opportunity. It will get him used to going out. If he does potty, praise him a lot. Puppy dogs are happiest when they know you are pleased with them.

You shouldn't leave your puppy dog in the house alone. Remember, they are like kids. If unattended they may do worse than soiling your floors.

It is also a good idea to have a pen, of some kind, in the yard for those times that you can't be watching them closely. Make sure they have toys to play with and don't leave them out there very long. Puppy dogs get their feelings hurt easily and may think they are being punished.

Try to feed your puppy dog at least 2 hours before bedtime and then walk him or let him out before bedtime.

It is also a good idea to confine him in a crate or pen overnight. This will prevent any accidents or mischief. If they are allowed to roam the house, almost anything can happen and you don't want to get up to that mess in the morning.

Never, I repeat, never rub your puppy dog's nose in it and definitely do not yell at him. This will just humiliate him. And,yes, they do get embarrassed. Just pick him up and take him outside.

While he is outside, clean up the mess and use something that will take away the smell so he doesn't return to the same place.

Pay attention when he is standing by the door or pawing at the door. This, of course, means he is letting you know he needs to go out. This is a good sign.

Your puppy dog is on his way to being housebroken.

About the Author:

If you found these tips helpful check out Instant Dog Training Videos!. This is where you will find a variety of dog training techniques, all on video.

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My Dog Won't Come to Me When Called

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My Dog Won't Come to Me When Called
by Deborah Gewock

You are doing everything you know to get your dog to COME to you when called. He acts like he doesn't know what you are trying to get him to do.

From my experience, there are a lot of things that can contribute to this problem.

Does your dog know his name? If not, this is a major part of the problem. Start using his name frequently and give some love by means of petting or scratching him. A meal or an occasional treat works also. He will begin to recognize his name and associate it with something pleasant.

Does your dog know what you are trying to say? You can't seem to get him to come so you add another word to the command. "PETEY, COME!" Next thing you know, you are chasing him because he still won't COME. Now he thinks this is a game so he keeps dodging you. When you finally give up and he eventually comes near you, you use a stern voice to reprimand him. Uh, Oh, now he associates "PETEY, COME" with "I'm in trouble, better get out of here!"

Does your dog enjoy his surroundings? Sometimes a dog just goes into his own world, and as I say, "smells the roses". We, as people, do the same thing. Get his attention by petting him and saying the word COME when he notices you. Giving him a treat while saying "COME" is getting him used to hearing the word and associating it with something good.

If you have eye contact with your dog, tell him to COME. Sometimes it is necessary to keep him on a lead, especially if you are outside. As you say come, gently pull him toward you. After he has reached you, offer him a toy or cookie, along with a lot of petting and "ATTA BOYS". Try not to end play time too soon or he will associate COME with the end of a good time.

Once your dog associates COME with good things, do not confuse him by asking him to COME to scold him for something. Always keep in mind that your tone of voice can put a different feel to the word COME. Always keep your voice pleasant, when possible. We want him to know that he is safe when he is near you and that if he COMES all is forgiven.

DO NOT use the COME command if you are going to do something unpleasant (in his eyes, of course). If you are going to bathe him or clip his toe nails, you need to go get him. This will help to keep the COME word positive.

Your body language is an important factor when training your dog to COME. Just like people, dogs will associate your body language with your mood. If for instance your arms are crossed and you are standing tall, your dog can associate this with being angry. Stay relaxed and your dog will be relaxed and respond better.

If you are training your dog to COME with treats, let him come all the way to you. Do not reach out and offer him the treat. Hold the treat next to your leg and make him come all the way to you for it.

Once you have trained your dog to COME, it is easier to go on to other training techniques.

About the Author:

If you found these tips helpful check out Instant Dog Training Videos. This is where you will find a variety of dog training techniques, all on video.

Professional Dog Training