Dog Information and Advice

Dog Training Basics You Should Know

Dog training is something that every dog owner should do and is definitely worth the time and effort it takes. However, before you start, there are some things you need to know in order to make training your dog easier and more pleasant for both you and your dog.

The very most important thing you must always remember is that you are the boss! By nature dogs are pack animals and adhere to a strict hierarchy with every pack having a “leader.” In order to train your dog properly and more easily, you need to establish yourself as the pack leader early on in your relationship.

Some dogs may be more aggressive than others, some more dominant, some easier going, but no matter what your dog’s personality, you must be firm in your commands. Don’t let your dog get the upper hand or he will start to think that he is the leader. Now, I don’t mean that you need to be physically abusive to your dog, far from it! You just need to show your leadership through your actions and body language.

Another thing to consider is that while your dog understands you at about the same level as a two year old, he is not a human. In fact, your dog has many differences from humans that cause him to interpret your commands and act much differently than a 2 year old child would. So, do not expect him to behave like your 2 year old during training.

When training your dog, you need to be consistent. Set aside about 30 to 45 minutes every day to work on training. You can start training your dog as young as you want but don’t be discouraged if you have an older dog because training can be done at any age.

You want to start training your dog with the basics. The “sit” command is a good place to start as getting your dog to sit is the basis for many other commands. Work on this one command every day until your dog has it mastered, then move on to the next command.

During training, you want to be firm. Always use the same word for each command and say the word clearly. Never punish your dog when he does not do what you want but, instead, use positive reinforcement when he DOES do what you want. Punishing or scolding will only confuse your dog, so have patience when he is not behaving the way you want. The best thing to do is ignore him and he will soon learn that he only gets the reward when he performs the desired action.

Try to work on dog training every day at first. As your dog learns more and more commands, you can slow down a bit, but training should always be a part of your relationship with your dog. It can be fun and rewarding for both of you to keep learning new behaviors and taking the training to the next level.

Dog training is something that requires consistency, persistence and patience but your efforts will be highly rewarded with a well behaved dog as well as a stronger bond with your best friend. Training your dog properly is good for his safety, health, and happiness as well as the safety of those around him. And dog training can also be a lot of fun for both you and your dog!

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Learning How to Train a Guard Dog

Learning how to train a guard dog will require special knowledge and skills that most dog owners do not typically possess. If you are like most dog owners, you probably think of your dog as a companion and a friend, and you assume that your dog would defend you if you were in a situation that required it. However, this is not usually what happens because most dogs are simply not good guard dogs or attack dogs. There are countless stories of people being robbed, beaten, or even killed while their dogs were standing right next to them and the dog did nothing.

The fact of the matter is that most dogs wouldn’t do much more than bark at a stranger who attacked their owner or broke into their home, and many wouldn’t even do that. They might make enough noise or sound threatening enough to succeed in frightening the intruder off, but in most cases they will not attack or bite them.

It’s not because they don’t love you as their owner or they are bad dogs. It’s just that most dogs have not been trained to be a guard dogs and most dog breeds are not cut out for guard or attack work in the first place. As a pet, your dog has been taught to have a healthy respect for human beings and not bite them. So if you want your dog to be a good guard dog, he has to be trained that way from an early age. You have to learn how to train him as a guard dog and you must be prepared to treat him as a guard dog first and a pet second.

Before you even think of guard dog training, you need to consider whether or not your dog has the right temperament for being a guard dog. There are certain dog breeds that are highly suitable for guard work and it is evident in their behavior. I used to have a Rottweiler that was very well trained and great with people, but he would gladly spring to my defense if any stranger came close to me or anyone came at me in a threatening manner. He would also guard the yard and house as if it was what he was born to do. His guarding instinct was superb and he needed very little training to bring it out.

Dog breeds that are bred for guarding, herding, hunting and retrieving are called “working breeds” and without a job to do, these breeds can become bored and find things to do which can sometimes be mischievous. If you can learn how to train a guard dog, you can give your dog a job to do. This will keep him happy and out of trouble while keeping you safer and more at ease when he is around. If you have a dog that is suitable for guard work, training him to guard your home can be a big boost to his confidence and happiness. But if you want a truly professional guard dog, you will probably need to consult a professional to either train him or teach you how to train him.

Learning how to train a guard dog and actually doing it requires a lot of work, a great deal of patience, and lots of devotion. It is not so much about teaching the dog to attack or to bark as it is teaching him the difference between “friends” and “enemies” and how to act towards each of them.

Take for example the typical dog’s hatred of the postman or delivery men. What is it about these nice guys that make them enemies in your dog’s eyes? Well, just think what they do. They come up to your house, apparently trying to get in. They may leave something on the porch and go away, or they may knock and have you open the door, but one thing is sure, you don’t ever actually let them in. So they can’t be friends, right? Therefore they must be enemies. This is how a dog’s mind works.

Therefore, if you want a guard dog, you need to train him to know the difference between friends and intruders. This means that you have to introduce the dog to people. Let him see you shake their hands and invite them in. Let him get a good sniff of their scent so that he will recognize them. But don’t have them give him treats. Don’t let your dog start thinking that anybody who feeds him is a friend, or he will be easy for a real enemy to bribe with treats. The dog must only obey commands and accept food from you, his owner and trainer.

Another key factor in learning how to train a guard dog is consistency. You must work with your dog on his training each and every day. Dogs respond well to routines and schedules. Even after he has mastered it you still need to refresh his training periodically. This not only reinforces the training, but keeps their minds working too. In fact, most dogs that are trained as guard dogs attend a training school where they receive intensive professional training and the owners or trainers continue to work with them on training for the rest of the dog’s life.

These are just some tips and information to get you started and help you decide if you really want a guard dog. If you do, and you want to train it yourself without professional help, you will need to investigate the best training systems and techniques so you can learn how to train a guard dog and have a very good understanding of what it takes to do it.

Remember that before you can properly train your dog to be a good guard dog, he must first be obedient and well-trained in every day life. Learn the top secrets to dog training by clicking here.

Benefits of Owning a Well Trained Dog

Dog training is very important for many reasons that benefit both you and your dog. Owning a well trained and obedient dog is definitely a lot more fun for you. In addition to that, trained dogs are much happier dogs.

An obedient and well trained dog is far less likely to get into fights with other dogs and will tend to socialize better with dogs that they meet in public. They are also better with people so you can take them in public or have company over without any worries. And it is particularly important to have a well-trained dog if there are young kids in your household or in your neighborhood.

Similar to having well-behaved children, owning a well-trained dog makes for a happier and more stable household. The time that you spend training your puppy initially will have a lasting impact on you and your dog for the rest of its life.

Taking the time to properly train your dog will strengthen the bond between you and will ensure a long and happy friendship that benefits both you and your dog. When you consider the amount of time you spend with your dog the time and effort it takes to properly train him is more than worthwhile.

Here are a few basic dog training commands that are relatively simple to teach your dog and should be mastered…

* Sit: This is one of the most basic of all dog training commands and is one that you’ll want to teach your puppy from the beginning.

* Stay: This is important to ensure that no matter where you are you know that your dog will stay precisely where you want him to.

* Down: Teaching your dog to lay down on command is one of the main aspects of any successful dog training program.

* Heel: This is where you teach your dog to walk beside you at the same pace without pulling on the leash.

* No: Teaching the “No” word to your dog can save you a lot of trouble in the future. If your dog understands and responds to the word no you can keep them out of trouble much easier and save yourself a lot of hassles.

It’s best to train most commands when the dog is still young but not too young. A small puppy won’t be easy to train and neither will an old dog.

You should continue to train your dog beyond the basic commands listed above, but if nothing else these are the ones that should be mastered. There’s no doubt that it will improve the relationship you have with your dog and the enjoyment and happiness that you and your dog will have together.

Training will also let your dog know that you’re the boss and in doing so eliminate many behavior problems. Dogs that are untrained can often get depressed, unhappy and show symptoms of anxiety and confusion. By training your dog you are actually giving him a purpose in life, and he will get pleasure out of the fact that he is pleasing you.

Remember that dog training is an ongoing process that needs to be done periodically. Even after your dog has mastered a command you may need to give him a refresher course every once in a while.

Want to learn everything there is to know about training your dog? Check out the Secrets to Dog Training website.

Boost Your Dogs Intelligence with Toys

There are many benefits in giving your dog the right toys to play with and chew on. While most people think that dog toys are only to relieve boredom that is not the only use for dog toys.

Yes, dog toys are excellent for relieving boredom and are especially good when you have to leave your dog on it’s own for a while, but there are other reasons why you should consider buying your dog toys.

Some dog toys are designed to boost their intelligence where they will only get a reward after they have performed certain tasks.

These toys are a very effective method of training.

Other toys help dogs to know what they can chew on, which will help you save a lot of money by not having to replace expensive items around your house that have been destroyed by your dog chewing on them.

There are chewing toys that will help your dog strengthen and keep their teeth clean and there are toys that will help train your dog to retrieve or hunt.

It’s your job to decide what you want to get out of a certain toy before buying and also to determine what the personality of your dog is before you can get the right toys for it.

Some toys are designed to last for a short period of time and then be replaced by new ones, and these are often the chewing variety. Some are designed to be very stong and durable to last a long time

Some toys of the chewing variety are flavored so you will need to check first to see what ingredients they have used for the flavoring or you might be buying a toy that your dog is allergic to. These toys with flavoring often have preservatives in them so beware of that as well.

With such a wide variety of toys available on the market these days there is certain to be something that your dog will enjoy and make their life all the more happy while increasing their intelligence.

You can get most of these toys at any pet store or dog toy website.