Dog Obedience Training

Finally, the day has come. Your brand new puppy is old enough to come home and become a member of your family. Everyone is so excited! And she is so cute and cuddly and so fun to play with. Your puppy can do no wrong.

Until…What? There is garbage all over the floor for the hundredth time. Your brand new $50 shoes are in pieces all over the floor. The remote control mysteriously disappears. And, the final straw, after hearing her whining through the night, you step in dog poop.

FRUSTRATING! Your loving feeling you once had for your cute, adorable puppy turns into disgust and hate. The sad thing is, this can all be avoided. That puppy only wants to be loved. She just hasn't been taught what she needs to know to be a welcome addition to the family. With a little bit of patience and a lot of love, you can train your puppy or dog how to live peacefully and happily in your home.

Your dog needs guidance and education. Training your dog challenges and stimulates his mind. You can start to train your dog as early as three to four months. There are many dog training books available to help you teach your dog the necessary commands. Dog behavior problems can be solved or avoided when using specific commands. It is very important to start in a quiet place, to avoid distractions.

Be sure your dog understands that you are the boss. He is to do what you tell him, not the other way around. A dog's nature is to live in a pack. Within that pack is the Alpha-dog. You need to show him you are the Alpha-dog. One way to do this is to keep eye contact with him. Do not raise your voice. Screaming at your dog will not help him understand what you are saying. This will only scare him. With a slow, quiet voice give short, concise commands.

There are many commands and tricks to teach your dog. The most common commands are come, sit, stay, and heel. Many common tricks are shake, fetch, roll-over, and speak. Dogs are capable of learning multiples of commands and tricks. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, Chanda-Leah, born in Jan.1, 1994, weighing at only 7 and a half pounds performs 1064 tricks and loves it. This could be your dog. So have fun and enjoy the love of your dog.

PRAISE! PRAISE! PRAISE! A dog learns from pleasing or displeasing reactions. When teaching him a command, as in "sit", let him know he has done a good job. He is more likely to repeat this command, if he feels he has done something to please you. Verbal and physical praises are an important process in training. There are many different ideas on whether you should give a dog treats for praise. Giving dogs treats in formal obedience training can be a positive reinforcement, just do not overdo it. And be sure your dog has performed the command you give him. If he starts to beg, jump on you, steal from your plate, or display bad behavior in connection with food, a dog should NEVER receive treats until the behavior is corrected.

DISCIPLINE as a training technique can be effective. The tone of your voice is important . Learn to say "no" without a whining, pleading tone. Go and get your dog. Never call a dog to you and then discipline it. Be sure to make eye contact. Never use an object to discipline. Be sure to discipline correctly and on a level your dog can understand.

It is essential to "make up" with your loyal dog. After you discipline your dog, you should remain passive for at least half an hour. Do not speak to the dog and avoid eye contact. Your dog should submit to you by either looking away or gazing down at the floor. If you go to your dog before it has time to readjust, he will shake and whine, which will make you feel guilty. Don't fall into this trap. He will not learn!

Training your dog can be a frustrating and enjoyable time. And, once you see that unconditional love and respect from your dog's eyes, it is all worth the time and effort you have sacrificed.

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Dog Crate Training-An Effective Tool

When someone suggested to me to kennel up my dog, I thought this was cruel. Then one day, she got into something that made her choke. It scared me enough to realize that crates are not such a bad idea after all. When it comes to whether my dog likes me or whether she is safe, I choose safety.

Types of Crates

• Wire Crate-The dog is able to see out and be a part of the family activities. It has a removable tray to help with cleaning.
  
• Plastic/Enclosed Crate-This one is more enclosed and it makes it harder for the dog to be a part of the family. They are better used for traveling or for shipping rather than in the home.
  
• Mesh Crate-This is not a practical crate for the home because it can be destroyed easily.
  

Choosing The Right Size Crate:

Only allow enough room for your dog to turn around and lie down. If the crate has too much room, the puppy will eliminate at one side, and live at the other. Because crates can be costly, buy a big enough crate for an adult size dog. The crate should be big enough for an adult dog to stand up and lie down in a comfortable stretched out position. Use a divider for your puppy until she is potty trained.

Be sure your dog is safe in his crate. Never use a collar, leash, or harness while your dog is in his crate. Do not leave toys in with him because he could choke.    

 Dog crate training – Teaching a dog to accept his crate.

The best time to teach a dog to accept a crate is when she is a puppy. However, older dogs will usually adapt easily. To get your puppy to go into his crate is pretty simple. Bribery! All dogs love treats. Select a phrase that you prefer to use to get your dog to go into his crate. You could say "kennel-up", "go to your bed", "go to your room", "cage-up", or even "pick your nose"! It doesn't matter what you choose. It just has to be used each and every time you want him to go into the crate. Have fun with it! Just remember to be consistent. With the collar in one hand, and the treat in the other at the end of his nose, guide him towards the kennel. Once there, open up the kennel, say the phrase and point. Shut the door, and give him his well deserved treat while praising him with saying "good plus your phrase"!

Use the crate only in a positive manner.

It is very tempting to use the crate as a place for punishment. It is imperative that you do not do this. If you do, this will cause the dog to hate the crate. This will have the reverse affect you want for crate training and cause you even more frustration.

However, your puppy may need a time out and you may need a break from her. If this is the case, try to use your phrase in a cheerful manner and kennel her up for a little while. Chances are she is probably ready for a nap after all of that dog obedience training!

Important tips when using a dog crate.

• Whining and crying are inevitable. You may choose to ignore, however, she can go on for hours! Correcting is your best choice. Correct her with a firm, not mean, "Quiet" or "Lay Down".
  
• To help prevent whining, give her something to do. Remember not to give plastic toys to a dog without supervision. Instead, purchase a Nylabone or stuffed Kong. Puppies seem to love the Kong! Peanut Butter is an all time stuffing favorite!
  
• Although you want the crate to be a safe, comfortable place for your dog to want to be in, you do not want to put a blanket or towel in the crate until the puppy is potty trained. A towel will only encourage him to pee, because it will soak it up. And, more than likely the dog will chew it up. However, once your dog is reliable and can hold until time to go out, you can give him a blanket or towel. After all, you want your puppy to be happy. Use an old towel you do not care about, eventually, it will be chewed up!
  
• Puppies and dogs should be in the crate not only when you are gone, but when you are at home, too. If you put your dog in the crate only when you leave, she will feel this is a punishment and can develop separation anxiety. She should not be in the dog crate all day long. In fact, the more she is with your family, the more she will be a part of your family. Just put her in the crate at specific times, like when you are eating or at nap time.
  
• Keep the crate where the family will be. Do not put the crate in a basement or garage. This will isolate the dog and cause social problems.
  
• If too much activity is going on when your puppy should be sleeping, you can put a blanket over the cage to help settle him down.
  

Eventually, your dog will be old enough to be out of the crate. However, many dogs tend to feel secure in their crate, especially when sleeping. It is all up to you and your dog. However, dog crate training is an essential tool to help keep your puppy safe while training her to be a happy new addition to your family. Good luck and happy shopping!

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Dog Training Tips

Training your dog can be simple, or very frustrating. It all depends on what information you chose to use. Many common problems arise during dog obedience training and dog house training. Here are some tips to help you to a more enjoyable and effective training time.

*House training- Look for the signs. Once your dog realizes where it is supposed to go potty, he will give you signs such as nose grazing, loitering around the door, prancing around the room, eye contact, and even barking. I know one dog that actually rings a bell! Dogs should have regular feeding times and food should be picked up right after they are finished eating. They should be let out on a consistent schedule. If he makes a mess, do not call the dog to you, go and get him. Sit him down and make him look at his mess. Scold or growl to show you are not happy. Then take him outside. Do not let your dog see you clean up his mess. This will undermine your authority, as he will think of you as his maid. This is one of the most common reasons for serious house soiling. Your dog must learn control. You should not have to constantly be on the lookout at the door. Once the incident has been handled, do not continue to scold him.

*Chewing- Coming home from work and finding your son's brand new glasses case chewed up or the vacuum cleaner cord or PS2 cord chewed in half, or even the couch cushion with a huge hole is very frustrating and can make you very angry. Of course, although you take it quite personally, your dog does not chew things to make you upset on purpose. Sometimes, it is just going through a chewing stage, and all you need to do is supply chew toys. But, when he has his own chew toys, sometimes, your dog has its own frustrations. He may not like being left alone, or he may just be bored. If you discover a chewed item, take your dog to the item and make him look at it. Then scold him or discipline him under the chin. Be sure to use some preventative measures such as greeting and leaving your dog with a quiet praise. Instill a sense of responsibility in your dog by saying "watch the house" or "take care of the family". Take away a special bone a couple hours before you leave, and then playfully give it to him before you leave. Leaving the radio on, sometimes distracts them.

*Digging- Many times the reason a dog digs continuously is because it is forced outside a lot, or it is never allowed indoors. Your dog will dig to release frustration or because of boredom. The most effective way to prevent digging because of this is to allow your dog to come inside and become part of your family. Some breeds have a natural tendency to dig for specific reasons. Even these dogs can be trained to stop digging with proper obedience training and being included in your family life.

*Jumping Up- Dogs usually jump up on humans because they want attention. Train your dog to sit as a puppy. For older dogs, grasp their paws firmly and squeeze. Then let go and say no. *Riding in Cars- Choose a smooth, short route. Do not give food or water at least three hours prior to your trip. For the first couple trips, let the dog sit in the car for a few minutes to get used to his surroundings. Go for longer trips each time. Praise your dog as he jumps in the car. Your dog should already know the down and stay commands before taking any trips. And, he should never be in the front seat.

These are all common problems with simple solutions. Good luck and happy training! For more dog training tips, visit http://taychr.bezoogle.com/pp/dog-training/

Dawn Lambie, author, provides relevant tips and reviews on dog training guides and programs. Visit her website at http://taychr.bezoogle.com/pp/dog-training/