Puppy Training & Dog Training

By Ronald Fritz

Puppies and dogs are reliable, usually sensible and sometimes funny. You can never stay angry at them for long and the eyes, when they stare at you, seem to be pleading, asking, begging for something more, but you got to love them. They bring happiness and make their owners smile, with their goofy walking and puppy eyes.

Puppies are innocent and forgiving; they see everything as a fun game where everybody should be playing. Loving your puppy will help them love you; they will become part of your family. Puppies seem to be a fountain of understanding; they know when you feel down and try to comfort you with a nice warm kiss and a little cuddle.

Yet innocence can be deceiving, without puppy training, discipline can be tough and they can become a hell hole. Chunks start disappearing from the couch and your favorite shoes start looking like something mauled by a wild bear. Stinky, warm patches appear in the most unlikely places and the plants aren’t where you last left them.

Puppy training is the second thing you look for after you realize that you new furry best friend has just relief themselves all over the kitchen floor; the first being the paper towers that you can never seems to find. Puppy potty training can help fix this problem as can puppy training and behavior training help you enjoy more your new friend. There are many training hints and tips out there even for those dogs older dogs looking for that odd bit of obedience training.

So it’s in your and your furniture’s best interest to train your puppy.
A well train puppy will grow up into a happy, healthy dog, who will love you as long as you look after them properly and you and your dog will be happy.

Find out more about puppy and dog tips and solutions for dogs behavior at Puppy Training Tips & Hints
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Dog Obedience Training

By Demosthenes Damon

Dog obedience training is not about giving commands and pushing a dog to work hard instead of enjoying life, it's quite the opposite. Dog obedience training is a continuous process. Dog obedience training is vital to the safety of the dog, his handler, and those around him. You can reap large rewards for properly training your dog.

Obedience
Obedience training doesn't solve all behavior problems, but it is the foundation for solving the most common problems. Obedience training should be fun and rewarding for you and your dog. Obedience training will give your pet a job to do and can be useful in redirecting some of the mental energy of an animal that was meant for work. Obedience training is often a prerequisite for or component of other training. Owners may take a while longer to learn this dog psychological behavior training method and how best to put it into consistent practice in order to achieve the highest quality of dog or puppy obedience and improve their relationship with canine companions. Whether a puppy or adult dog, your new friend will need guidance, obedience instruction, and understanding. Without any basic obedience training, a dog may still be a wonderful companion and friend for you. However, how do you know that your dog is safe, and reliable in all situations?

Puppy
Obedience Training is one of the best things you can do for your dog or puppy. It is best to train your puppy or dog right now before problems worsen or prevents new problems from developing later on. Using a hula-hoop is a good way to teach the "In" and "Out" commands while your puppy has fun. It's a good idea to learn what to do and NOT to do if you have to leave your puppy alone for several hours. In my website I give a skeptical review on one author's tips on bringing new puppy home, crate training a puppy, puppy house training, and introducing children and dogs. Whether you train your puppy yourself or hire a professional, teaching your dog commands and how to socialize will make both you and your pet happier throughout your dog's life.

Dog obedience training isn't just about showing off the latest pet tricks to your friends. Dog obedience training teaches your dog how to think and problem solve. Dog obedience training is in general, an education to cultivate dogs to become reliable and predictable. If you would like to learn more about what I think of some of the "experts" have to say on dog obedience training, visit my site. I am very skeptical of many online experts and what they have to share with the public.

Demosthenes Damon is an article writer and dog lover. To learn more about his the reviews of dog training products please visit http://www.dogbookdoubter.com/ or click Dog Training Visit my "no holds barred" at http://www.dogbookdoubter.com where I share the truth about some online dog educational materials.
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Dog Agility Training Safety Tips

By Jeff Pettit

Dog agility training can be fun and exciting for your dog and your whole family but there are some things you must consider when training your dog at home or “just for fun”.
If you are considering entering your dog in competition then it is best to take your dog to a dog agility trainer right from the beginning but if you are training your dog for fun and exercise then here are some points to consider:

- First you must consider the safety of your dog. - Do not attempt to do too much too quickly. Know the limits of your dog. - Certain breeds or young dogs should not do too much jumping. Talk to a trainer if you are concerned. - Everyday household items can be used to build a course. Be careful of sharp pointy bits though as it is easy to poke an eye when dog agility training. - Even puppies can participate in some easy agility training such as running through a cardboard tunnel. - Dog agility training takes time and patience. - If jumping over a bar make sure that the bar can be displaced both ways. - Make sure your dog is always under control. This will reduce the risk of any injuries. - Use positive reinforcement. This is a much better motivator. - Always reward your dog when a task is completed. - End training in a positive way and have fun!

If you are looking at getting into agility training in a more serious way you can visit cleanrun.com to search for agility schools near you or if you are looking for a dog to train, Border Collies are often considered as the ultimate agility dog. They are quick learners and work hard. They are able to concentrate and aren’t easily distracted. They are athletically built and are longer then they are tall which gives them increased flexibility.

Having said that many breeds perform excellently at dog agility training, and if you are just doing it at home for exercise then it doesn’t matter if your dog isn’t a well honed athlete, as long as you both have fun.
Teach your dog agility training and basic dog training at: Dog Training
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Dog Training Aids To The Rescue

By Michael Russell

You can go through your dog training activities in a breeze if you are equipped with all the right stuff. Among the basic items that you will need in training your dog are a 6-foot leather leash, a slip or choke collar, a 15-foot line, cotton rope or webbing, bait pouches, a crate or exercise pen, baby gates, motivational toys and grooming tools.

Leashes or Leads
There is a wide variety of leashes available in the market today. Leashes can be made from a number of different materials and may come in different sizes and widths. Among the most common materials used for leashes are leather, nylon and chain.

For maximum comfort for both you and your dog, it would be advisable to choose a 6-foot leash made from good quality leather and use it during your dog training sessions. Among the many advantages of using leather leashes are the following:
.It can provide more comfort for you and your dog during trainings. Unlike nylon leads, good quality leather does not cut or burn your skin. And unlike chain leashes, leather leads do not produce earsplitting noises.
.It is lightweight and is therefore easier to carry.
.Leather leashes last a lot longer. They can even last for several years!

Collars
Using slip or training collars can be a logical choice when you are trying to train your dog. These collars tighten as the dog pulls and loosen as he/she relaxes giving your dog the appropriate signals whenever he/she is making a mistake. However, collars should never be used to punish or choke your dog. When buying a collar, make sure you pick one that fits your dog properly. Collars that are either too small or too large can be dangerous and extremely irritating to your dog.

Dogs who do not respond to slip collars would do better with a halter. A halter fits over the dog's head and muzzle while allowing him/her to pant and to drink. You can easily control the direction of the dog's head and his entire body as well by using a halter.

The 15-Foot Line
A 15-foot line is like a long leash that enables you to control your dog even at a distance. You can easily grab it at different places to show your dog who the boss is and as such, can be a very good dog training device.

Bait Pouches
Having dog treats in your pockets can be one of the worst inconveniences you can encounter during your dog training sessions. When the treats are scattered on your pockets, you might fumble for a while just to find where they are. As a result, there will be a delay between the time your dog performs something worthy of a treat and the actual time when the treat is given. You may not promptly give your dog the reward he or she deserves and hence, defeating the purpose of the activity altogether.

To solve this, consider purchasing or making your own bait pouches. These bait pouches can be made up from any ordinary canvas tool pouches and tied around your waist during your dog training activities. This will make access to the goodies a lot easier and your dog wouldn't have to wait around indefinitely as you fumble for the doggie treats they just earned!

A final word of advice - do not trust every word your friendly salesman has to say. All of these items were designed to make your dog training efforts incredibly easy but with the popularity of these products in the market, a lot of manufacturers are out there to make a buck or two from unsuspecting dog owners! Know what really works and what doesn't. You need to know which of these gears deliver on their promises and which ones were designed specifically to make a profit. It would be best to do your research extensively and seek advice from credible sources to know more about these things.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Dog Training
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Dog Obedience Training - Makes for a Much Happier Family

By Arnie Jacobsen

Dog Training is the key to having a happy and healthy dog. It is also the key to keeping your sanity and a happy home.
The first ingredient for effective dog obedience training to be effective is to build a solid and trusting relationship between dog and owner. And, before this can occur, a common language needs to be created. This can only be achieved when the dog obedience training that you are employing opens the way to learning, and provides you with the ability understand your pet and its needs.

Through dog obedience training you make sure that the animal always responds in a positive ways to your commands. The idea is to work with the dog in such a way as to ensure that the animal remains calm and will not develop anti-social behaviors. Exercises will help your pet create the best responses to stimuli and therefore, dog obedience training works for the benefit of both animal and adoptive family. Specific centers meet the requirements of dog owners who seek professional help in training their dogs. Though this is not commonly necessary if the owner understands the needs of the dog, and how to best address them.

There are several types of dog obedience training; let’s have a look at the very basic ones. The most common and easy to put into practice are the reward-based and the leash training types. The latter is considered to belong to the traditional dog obedience training used at first in military facilities. For such practical purposes, the leash dog obedience training has more advantages than the food reward, since it finds better adaptation to the task or mission the animal has to face. The collars bring mild or even hard correction, yet, make sure that you don’t use it ineffectively.

The leash dog obedience training teaches the animal to obey to collar control. You will need to remember that the leash is just the first step into developing the skills to get the dog obey under no matter what circumstances and relying on other tools as well. This type of dog obedience training establishes the hierarchy or the leadership in the dog’s life and the relation you develop with the dog very much depends on this aspect. Now, let’s see how the reward dog obedience training system works. Commands given to the animal and properly executed are rewarded. Thus, the pet associates a specific positive behavior with certain rewards, caresses, a toy or usually food. Behavior patterns develop along these lines as dog obedience training pursues a mutual understanding between pet and owner.

Ridding a dog of wanted behaviors is best accomplished by never letting them happen in the first place if possible, but in the even that isn't possible, say in the case of an adopted dog, more intense study is required. Some may decide to hire a professional in dog obedience training, but even here you have to be an active part in the process since you are the one to spend most time with the pet. Many find that learning how to do this on their own is much more rewarding.

Arnie Jacobsen loves dogs and knows a thing or too about dog obedience training He also offers tips on training aggressive dog elimination.
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How To Solve Common Dog Behavior Problems

By Francisco Lakay

Solving common dog behavior problems such as chasing after cars, destructive chewing and digging up the yard might be the result of poor communication from your side. Because dogs are pack animals like wolfs, they need a natural leader or an alpha dog. If no leader is assigned to them they will generally assume that they are alpha unless you communicate otherwise to them. Now I do not mean for you to get all aggressive with you dog by hitting or yelling just to "show" him who is boss. Like in any relationship a level of trust and friendship goes along way to achieving a mutual interest: well-being and respect for one another!

Communication starts by being there for one another, and with your dog it is not any different. Winning your dog's respect means more to him than to you, because it gives him someone to look up to. If you are already having a dog that shows a lack of discipline, comes when he feels like it, does what he likes and even shows the occasional aggressive behavior, you have got one problem only! Your dog is alpha and you are not, and all this is because of a lack of communication from your side.

So, how do you display alpha behavior to your dog? (More info at: Dog Behavior) For starts do not decide to "teach" your dog when you are angry or upset. Here are some ideas to assume the alpha role for your dog:
1) Stand tall, make eye contact and address your dog in a lowered voice
2) Make him sit and wait while you prepare his food
3) Do not allow him to beg food at the table
4) Feed him after you have eaten
5) Make sure that everyone in the family follows the same set of rules for your dog.

Correcting dog behavior problems should not be frustrating and least of all aggressive taught. Meet your dog halfway to understanding his/her behavior by obtaining relevant information at Online Dog Training.
Would you like to learn your dog new tricks or just get him to obey simple orders like "NO!"? What about all the unnecessary digging around the house?

Francisco M. Lakay is the author of the site Correct Dog Behavior that gives you insight into understanding and correcting your dog’s behavior patterns.
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Dog Behaviour Training - Why Is It So Important

By Mirko Van Anken

Dog behavior training is simple enough for the experienced dog lover but when it comes to beginners all the help available is needed. If you are an beginner or even an experienced dog owner you need to invest some time into a little bit of dog behavior training.
Dog behavior and dog behavior problems are sometimes difficult to solve, whether it be that disobedient dog that has selected deafness or the dog behavior training for adopted or rescue dogs. Dog Language gives you a dog's eye view. Dog behavior problems on the lead are a thing of the past as you make dog training easy and give yourself complete control over who takes who for a walk. Dogs are a lot smarter than they look so do not get taken in by their innocent-looking face or let them walk all over you no matter how much their eyes make them look like they are truly sorry. Dog training is the process of teaching a dog to exhibit certain desired behaviors in specific circumstances. Dogs like to be praised, so while you make him sit, tell him he is a good boy.

As I mentioned dogs like to be praised, so while you make him sit or play with him, tell him he is a good boy with a slow quiet voice. He will love you for this. Training is also challenging and stimulates a dog's mind. Train your dog is easy, fun, and very effective. If you do your dog behavior training the right way! But it will be fun for you and your dog.
Here are some tips for you to start. While training, stand up straight and do not slow up when you turn. Obedience training can begin as early as three to four months if yon train the dog yourself. A little tip for a puppy, a puppy learns right from wrong by associating his act with pleasing or displeasing results.

And think about that obedience training can begin as early as three to four months. If you are well informed about dog behavior training you can train your dog at home and that is a very, very funny thing to do. You will see. There are a lot of techniques that you can use to train your dog. Take the ones you like the most.
Okay lets summarize the point. As I said dog behavior training is simple enough for the experienced dog lover but when it comes to beginners all the help available is needed. So you need to invest some time into a little bit of training with your dog and if you have experience in training then you can learn a lot of more interesting techniques. So start your dog behavior training and help your dog to be your best friend. You will like it to train and have fun with your dog.

If you want to know more about dog behavior training then you have to visit this site.There you can get all the stuff you need to handle your dog,just go here http://www.trainingdog.de
It is full of techniques and tips.Visit my Blog too and get even more tips http://trainingforyourdog.blogspot.com
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Curb Behaviour Problems Through Dog Agility Training

By Jeff Pettit

Is training your dog a chore? Do you find you are getting nowhere even after repeated attempts to teach your dog? Sometimes adding a new dimension to old methods can have great results. Sometimes an old dog can learn new tricks.

Benefits of Dog Agility Training
Dog agility training is not just for competitive or sport orientated dogs. Any dog can try at least some basic tricks and you may find it has the added benefit of allowing your dog to build trust in you and to be more responsive to other training in general. Dog agility training is fun for you and your dog and tends to take some of the pressure out of general dog training.
Dog agility training is about teaching your dog to perform such feats as jumping over bars or other items, climbing obstacles, weaving in and out of poles and running through tunnels. It gives your dog the opportunity to get the exercise he desperately needs and teaches him to obey commands at the sound of your voice. Dog agility training will stimulate your dog both mentally and physically and will teach you how to have complete control over your dog.

Dog Agility as a Sport
In dog agility a dog will have to run through an obstacle course under the guidance of his handler. The dogs are timed and scored on ability to complete each obstacle and time taken. As smaller dogs are disadvantaged because they can’t run as quickly they are given more time to complete the course.
Dog agility requires a wide range of techniques to be used to teach your dog to perform various manoeuvres around different types of equipment. As a competitive sport can be quite complex and if you are considering this for your dog then it is best to get the guidance of a trainer.

Dog Agility Training at Home
When you are agility training your dog from home you must first consider the safety of your dog. Do not expect too much and be careful of sharp objects. If you are doing any kind of strenuous exercise or a lot of jumping seek the help of a professional agility trainer.
Dog agility training can be a great way to spend quality time with your dog. It allows you both to participate in fun activities and get some exercise while doing it. It bonds the dog with the owner and will make the dog more responsive to training and taking commands from you, making life with your dog all around a more enjoyable experience.

Agility dog training and basic dog training techniques can be found at: Dog Agility Training
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Dog Obedience Training Helps You to Understand Each Other

By Wade Robins

When dog behaves badly it does not mean that dog is bad, it is an animal and acts only according to his nature. The dogs can be moody at times and can behave in a way which might appear strange. Dog obedience training is not aimed at improving the behaviour of the dog or alters its mood swings but instead it is designed to make the owner and the family members to understand their dog better and vice versa. The dog obedience training is meant for dogs to understand the commands and various situations. Thus, dog obedience training provides mutual understanding or contacts among owner and dog. Well nobody guarantees on dog's temperament which can change in no time but what one can do is take precaution to avoid any untoward incident.

Mostly dogs are considered as playful animals and always want to please the owner. Once dog understands your behavior and the commands then it will be less likely to offend your wishes. The dog obedience training should be initiated with simple training sessions and commands and gradually turning to more complicated instructions. This enables the dog to get accustomed to new role and slowly it learns that he is being trained and that a particular type of behaviour is expected of him when given the particular command.

The initial lessons are meant to make the dog and trainer or the owner to be more comfortable in each others company and understand each other. There are cases when the dog only obeys the commands of the trainer or one member of the family who might have trained him and completely ignore the commands of the other family members. Hence it is necessary that after training the dog should be interacted with, by other family members using same commands.

Older dogs are a bit slow in learning as compared to the pups, as they have their own system of communication with humans, and since years these have been inculcated in their mind, though with some effort these dogs can also be trained provided you have the required patience and tact to do so. The first step in this direction is to make the dog unlearn old habits and then train it accordingly.

Once dog learns about the affiliation and command between the owner and his dog, then slowly dog will be eager to learn more commands and projected conduct from the owner. It might happen and happens many times, where old behavioral understanding persists. You should also keep in mind the fact that even a well trained dog can disobey at times. Once a relationship and order has been established between you and the dog, it will start learning more. It is advisable to impart small training sessions and not prolong the trainings as this may wear out the dog and his concentration.

You can also find more info on Dog Training and Dog Behaviour Training. Startdogtraining.com is a comprehensive resource to know how to train yor Dog.
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Stopping Agressive Dog Behavior

By Bill Nadraszky

Do you have an aggressive dog? Do you have problems when your dog sees other dogs that they he is always barking and trying to get at the other dog? Well the problem may not just be your dog’s problem but instead it may be more of a problem with the way your dog looks at interactions with other dogs.

Even when dogs have been trained and been around a lot of dogs your own dogs tendency will still to be to be an aggressive dog when your dog makes eye contact with other dogs. This is mostly a problem caused by the way in which most dog obedience courses are taught. Remember back when your dog was in a class with other dogs and you had to pull with the leash to keep your dog away from these other dogs. As you probably know, most dogs are naturally curios and when a pup gets together for the first time with a bunch of other dogs he would have been curious. The natural course of action as a new dog owner would have been to pull your dog hard away from the other dogs and now your dog will have learned that being around other dogs is bad and in the case of being close to other dogs it is easier to scare them away by being aggressive than it is to be docile and perhaps find a new friend.

As time has gone on you have probably pulled your dog away from other dogs at the dog park and now you have reinforced the idea that being around other dogs is bad. Well you certainly can teach an old dog new tricks and this trick is to let your dog be friendly again but still be respectful around other dogs.

The strongest emotion that you can instill at this point is to make eye contact with your dog. As you make eye contact your dog will get nervous but as you are making eye contact feed him some treats so that he knows that this is a good situation to be in. Next time you are at a dog park or another place where there are a lot of dogs around you can do the same thing. If the other dog is good then feed your dog treats as a reward for good interaction, if the interaction is bad then feed him no treats. These actions will change the way that your dog looks at other dogs and if here meets a friendly dog he will not be aggressive anymore but will still be wary around another aggressive dog.

Curing your dog from being aggressive is not really hard to do but these actions should definitely help your dog to be friendlier around dogs and this should translate to being better around people too.

There are many things that you can do to make your dog much better and very responsible to you and your family. Look around this site and if you need more please visit my review of a great dog training book.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bill_Nadraszky

Simple Tips for Solving Almost Any Dog Behavior Problem

By M. Bruno

Millions of dogs are dumped at dog shelters or abandoned due to an inability, or unwillingness of their owners to deal with dog behavior problems.

With a little education and some effort it simply doesn’t have to be this way. The vast majority of dog behavior problems can be solved with appropriate and humane dog behavior training.

Even the most frustrating and dangerous dog behavior issues such as dog aggression, dog biting and property destruction by dogs can be managed. The more severe and longer existing conditions should be referred to a qualified dog behavior expert such as a dog trainer for resolution.

It is important to keep in mind that dog behavior problems are not often solved in a day. Time and patience along with a commitment to your relationship with your dog is the first and most important ingredient in the recipe for fixing almost any dog behavior problems.

Some of the most common dog behavior problems are:

•Barking

•Chewing on furniture, clothes and household objects

•Excessive Digging

•Separation Anxiety

•Relocation Anxiety

•Fear of Loud Noises

•Biting and mouthing by puppies

•Hyperactivity

•Dog Aggression

•Food Aggression

•Submissive Urination

•Coprophagia or dog poop eating

•Jumpin

•Excessive Licking

Whatever dog behavior issue challenges you and your dog there are experts who can help you and reading material to point you in the right direction.

Here’s a few tips to help you with common dog behavior issues
In many cases dogs will exhibit “bad” behavior when they are bored and need exercise. So be sure to take your dog for a walk at least twice a d ay. Outings at the park for some run and play will also help to give your dog she absolutely must have to be healthy and happy. Be certain to ask your vet as to the right amount of exercise for your dog.

Dogs need to be socialized. Going for a walk in the neighborhood, meeting and greeting neighbor dogs is fun for you and your dog and I believe is a natural aspect of their pack mentality.

Keep control of the walk. Have your dog on a short leash if he is a puller and have him keep up with you. A nice brisk walk helps set boundaries and tells Sparky that you are the leader. A word of caution …do not pull or do anything that could potentially hurt your dog in any way. If you can not achieve control of the walk, get a dog trainer to show you the proper technique.

Give your dog a job! If you are grabbing for the treat bag, have Sparky hunt for the treat, run for it or find it hidden under a toy. Nothing like little “hunting” to make the day more fun!
Keep in mind that while your dog may be your baby, she is first and foremost a dog. She is going to react in the here and now and not in accord with your system of behavioral norms.

Find a qualified professional dog trainer or dog training help to get you past the issues that you just can’t manage alone. A little professional help can rapidly alleviate dog behavior issues that endless frustration and unwarranted dog scolding will never correct…it will only make things worse.

Dogs 4 Life offers help on dog behavior and dog care issues. For information on how to solve dog behavior problem visit http://www.dogs-4life.com/disobedient-dog-help.html
This article may be reproduced unedited and provided the link to the author’s site is displayed with the article.
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Why Punishment Might Be Causing More Dog Behavior Problems Than It Solves

By Aidan Bindoff

What is the difference between "pro-active" and "reactive" dog training? When we make pro-active training choices we don't say "stop doing that", we say "this is what I want you to do instead".

Imagine you draw a circle or pie-chart of 24 hours of your dog's typical day. You fill in pieces with every separate activity or behaviour your dog does in a typical day. You've got a large chunk filled up with sleeping, another chunk with drinking, another chunk with eating, another with ear scratching, going to the toilet, barking, running, walking, getting patted, chewing up your shoes, scratching at the door, jumping on your guests, etc., etc.

Then you decide you want to take out all the unwanted stuff. So you take out the chewing up shoes, scratching at the door and jumping on guests.
You still have 24 hours in a day. So what fills in those missing pieces?
Think about it. How does your dog know what to do instead? How do you know it's going to be something beneficial to your relationship and your lifestyle? You don't. In fact, it might make matters worse...
Let's say he has some sort of emotional or physical need for exercise which is not being met. So he goes out into the yard and digs.
You catch him digging and give him a telling off. Then you put chicken wire over the parts of the garden that he likes to dig.
So what does he do instead? Maybe he starts escaping the yard and wandering about the neighbourhood.
You build a higher fence.
Then what does he do instead?

Another scenario... Puppy is teething and needs to chew for relief, it might be from boredom or from the pain of teething.
Pup looks around the room and finds a pair of your shoes, they look chewable! You decide to squirt him with water to punish the chewing. What does he chew instead? How does puppy's need to chew for relief get fulfilled?
The answer, in part, is to become pro-active. Put your shoes away and give pup legal things to chew. It's ok to say 'no' in a neutral tone of voice when pup is chewing the shoe you foolishly left on the floor, but then you need to follow up by swapping your shoe for a pig's ear or chew toy instead.

For the dog who is digging, maybe he needs a longer walk each day? Or maybe you could sign up at a local agility class for some fun activity, socialisation and training all in one?
You see, dogs do what works for them. The trick is to make what works for them work for you too. By being proactive we can channel their needs into activities and behaviours which complement our lifestyle and our needs.

(c) Aidan Bindoff 2006
Aidan Bindoff is Editor of http://www.PositivePetzine.com, a free ezine for people training their own dogs. Each edition has easy to use training advice based on positive reinforcement methods. Subscribers have access to a large archive of back-issues they can consult for just about any behavior or behavior problem.
As Featured On Best Ezines
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Aidan_Bindoff

Dog Behavior Training

By Andrew Strachan

As any dog owner will tell you, dogs can be very complex animals and can have very individual personalities. This can manifest itself as bad behavior at times but there is no reason why good behavior training cannot put your dog onto the right path to being the perfect pooch.

Before considering training your dog to improve its behavior, it is important to look into the background of what makes your dog...... a dog.

It is estimated that in the Western world alone, there are probably 800 or so different types of dog breeds. Although it could be said that the difference between some of these breeds is often very little, it is still an amazing concept from a human perspective. Especially when you consider that all modern dogs are believed to have come from one single mating pair of wolves thousands of years ago. Who could imagine that a St.Bernard could be related to a Chihuahua!

Dogs are predatory animals.
Now this doesn't mean that your dog will try and hunt every moving thing but the instinctive desire to hunt is always in them. This behavior is originally why humans and dogs became such close partners in the first place.
Understanding this behavior is the key to successfully training your dog.
Acute hearing enables them to pinpoint potential prey and coupled with their other abilities they can be very successful predatory animals.

The field of vision for a domestic dog is much better than that of humans - 180 to 270 degrees. If you compare this to a human who has a 100 to 150 degree field of vision it's easy to see why a dog can easily track prey.
Let's not forget a dogs amazing sense of smell. A dog is capable of detecting scents 100 million times smaller than that which a human can sense. A Golden Retriever can smell its prey through feet of frozen snow and a foot of frozen earth!
That is why your family dog will often exhibit predatory behavior.

Dogs will exhibit very social behavior.
Although everybody knows that dogs are very sociable animals, it is often overlooked by dog owners. This can lead to problems in the way they behave and can cause disobedience and bad behavior. People will often lock a dog away in a pen or on a leash outside for long periods of time. This isolation can often lead to fear, aggression, over excitement etc. Dogs need companionship in order to maintain healthy behavior.

Prolonged periods devoid of social contact with another dog, human or even a cat will harm the dogs’ personality and ultimately lead to unwanted behavior.

Dogs love to explore.
An adult dog is said to have a similar mental level of a two year old human. Similarly, dogs will learn through exploration of their environment. Unfortunately, what a dog perceives as exploration, you may perceive as chewing the furniture, eating shoes etc.

A quick and effective way to avoid this is to ensure that your dogs’ toys and chews etc are distinctly different from any human toysshoes etc. that may be lying around. Providing rawhide bones as oppose to rubber balls and plastic toys is one option.

Adequate behavior training for your dog will overcome these issues and lead to a better relationship between you both. Your will get a long lasting trusting relationship that you can both enjoy.

Article by Andrew Strachan. Find out more about dog behavior training and types of dogs at http://www.types-of-dogs.com
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What Causes 75% of ALL Dog Behavior Problems?

By Aidan Bindoff

When asked what is the biggest cause of dog behavior problems, most people would guess at lack of training, a 'dominance' problem, or inadequate socialisation. Some might even try to blame the dog's genetics or temperament. Whilst any of these might cause dog behavior problems, a great many dog behavior problems are caused in whole or in part by this one thing - not enough Exercise!

So what are your dog's exercise requirements?
That depends on age, breed and individual. Puppies shouldn't be exercised for more than 20 minutes at a time, but they can be exercised gently quite frequently. Most puppies like to play, which tires them out with or without your help. Be careful not to over-walk puppies, their bones need to mature before they can be walked for long periods. Speak to your vet, but 20 minutes of walking at a time is about right.

Different breeds have different exercise requirements. Working and herding breeds typically have very high exercise requirements. Take the German Shepherd as an example, German Shepherd Dogs are descended from herding dogs who were required to form a "living fence" for their master's flock. This was a 24 hour a day job, which included protection from predators and thieves at night.

Some breeds, whilst they may appear to have high exercise requirements, may not. A Greyhound actually has a fairly low exercise requirement, although they do love to exercise intensely for short bursts.
Other breeds were used in hunting. Breeds such as Beagles and Retrievers would work very hard, but not every day. They tend to be fairly flexible with exercise, so long as they are kept in shape and given regular outlets for their energies.

Individuals within any breed will have greater or lesser requirements for exercise than others of that breed. Sometimes the differences can be fairly extreme, although I have never known a Border Collie that didn't require a lot of exercise! Well, until they got old at least. Older dogs generally require much less exercise.

Nearly every adult dog requires at least 30 minutes walking each day. If you cannot physically provide this for your dog then alternative means for exercise should be arranged. Playing fetch, frisbee or swimming are excellent alternatives. Some dog clubs provide agility classes, which are a great way to train and to exercise your dog - regardless of breed or age.

Some individual dogs have a very high exercise requirement. Typically, trainers or obedience clubs will be presented with a dog who escapes the yard, barks all day, digs in the garden, pulls on the leash, jumps all over people or doesn't come when called. Usually in some sort of combination!

These dogs almost certainly require more exercise than they are getting.
In addition to exercise, training is essential. What's more, 5 minutes training is worth about 15 minutes exercise. "Brain work" will tire a dog out fairly quickly. Combine training with exercise and you have a winning combination. Sports such as Agility, Tracking, Schutzhund or Flyball are all excellent outlets for your dog's boundless energy.

Can you over-exercise a dog? Yes. You can exercise a dog to exhaustion. If you are extremely fit, or your dog is extremely unfit, you can cause injuries, heat-stress and even cause internal organ damage by over-working your dog. If your dog is unfit, consult with your vet before starting a new exercise program with your dog. Start off gently and increase the amount of exercise each week, give your dog time to adjust. In hot weather, scale back and provide plenty of water and rest opportunities.

Please also be aware of any physical limitations your dog may have. Diseases such as Hip Dysplaysia can be hard to detect in the early stages. Some dogs are remarkably adept at hiding injuries if they think the fun will stop. If you suspect your dog has an injury, please end all exercise and immediately seek veterinary help. Early treatment can save weeks of needless pain and hundreds of dollars of vet care.

Aidan Bindoff is Editor of http://www.PositivePetzine.com, your helpful online resource for positive dog training and behavior information.
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