I used to have a dog called Ben whom I loved very much. He came to me when he was six weeks old and I looked after him until he died when he was seventeen years old. He did the usual things when he was a puppy, like jumping up on people, chewing slippers and sneaking food. Dogs were not always pets after all,  and they operate from a collective instinct. Making them fit for human habitation requires obedience dog training.

The younger the dog is, the easier it is to train him. If you don’t feel confident to tackle it yourself, there are professional trainers who’ll do it for you. You will have heard the saying, it’s the owners that need the training and not the dogs. My friends had a very boisterous German Shepherd dog that they couldn’t do anything with. In despair, they handed him over to the Air Force for obedience dog training and he became a member of the squad. There usually isn’t a need for drastic measures like that.

One of the most annoying things is for a dog to bark constantly. This can often happen if the owner is away at work. You’ll get to know about it because the neighbors will complain. It sometimes helps to leave some background noise in the room, from a radio or television. This is company for the dog. If you’re present at the barking, tell him to stop in a firm voice, make a loud noise yourself or snap the leash (not too hard!).

Digging the garden is another instinct that you’ll want to stop. Again, communicate your displeasure with a firm command or loud noise. Puppies urinating in the home is another problem which might require obedience dog training. This tends to happen if the puppy is frightened or over excited, especially if he is reacting when greeting the owner after a long absence. Pay no attention until the dog is calmer, then speak in a reassuring tone and allow him to smell you. Puppies also like to chew. This habit can be overcome with good obedience dog training by being firm, and also providing the puppy with lots of toys he can chew. He will grow bored of your slippers.

If you want to avoid begging, then never feed your dog at the table and make sure that family members and visitors know the rule. Don’t let the dog pester you at meal times and don’t feed him between his set meals except to praise a particular display of good behavior. Obedience dog training is all a case of letting the dog know what is unacceptable and what the limits are.

No one likes to hear barking and yelping, and certainly no one likes to meet an aggressive dog on the street. Most dogs cannot be faulted for their behavior, but there are ways to change these things. Most dog owners have the best of intentions, but have no idea how to turn their pesky pup into a sweet and well-tempered dog. This is when obedience dog training is a great idea. This will help any owner learn how manage their animal when they need to be well behaved.

You can find obedience dog training as close as your community. There are normally programs in every town or city that specialize in obedience dog training. You will find that these courses vary in price, and are run by different types of folks. Some are conducted by those trained to help dogs, and others are run by those who have just had great success in the past with obedience dog training, and want to help you learn what they know.

In other cases, you may find obedience dog training available through your local pet store. Many chains have these classes, and they may offer them throughout the year. These will also vary in price, and you will want to call ahead to schedule the best classes to fit your life. Obedience dog training classes are many times held during the day, but you can also find ones that are run in the evening hours and on the weekends.

When you find the right obedience dog training course for you and your pet, you may be wondering what to expect. The trouble is, you never know what you are getting unless you ask. Many courses cover the basics of teaching your dog to heed your command, no matter what that command may be. They may teach the basics that most of us are familiar with, including sitting, heeling, and to stop barking. You may also find out secrets on how to stop aggressive behavior against other dogs and human beings.

If you and your dog have gone through obedience dog training, but things are still looking dim, you may need to find someone to work one on one with you and your pet. This type of obedience dog training may cost you a little more money, but you may end up with more bang for your buck this way. The trainer can then zoom in on your dog’s specific problems, and also help you where you are lacking. Dogs look to their human friends for guidance, almost like you are their pack leader, and you need to know how to assume this role effectively.

Keeping the attention of a dog while training is not always easy. Dogs can be easily distracted, and it is important to not allow the training sessions to be sabotaged by boredom. Making training fun for the dog and the human alike is vital to creating a happy, well adjusted and well trained dog.

Providing random positive stimuli during the day is a great way to keep the interest of the dog. Doing things the dog enjoys, like walking in the park, riding in the car, and playing with other dogs, is a great way to keep the dog’s attention and reward him for small successes. 

For instance, in order to reward the dog for coming to you, for instance, ask the dog to come to you, without giving any clues about a walk, a car ride, or other treats. After the dog has come to you and obediently sat down, attach the leash and start the reward. This can be either the aforementioned walk in the park, ride in the car, or anything else the dog likes to do. 

Providing some kind of reward, whether a treat, a special outing, or just a scratch behind the ears, every time the dog does something you want, is a great way to keep your dog motivated. If the dog knows something great is going to happen every time he obeys your command, he will be motivated to please you every time.

Distraction training 

When training any dog, it is important to not let distractions disrupt the training. The dog must be taught to ignore distractions, such as other people, other dogs, other animals and loud noises, and focus on what is being taught These types of distractions can even be used as rewards when training the dog to come when called.

For instance, if your dog enjoys playing with other dogs, whether in a local dog park or with the neighbor’s dogs, let him play freely with those other dogs. Then go into the park or yard and call your dog. When he comes to you, provide lots of praise, treats and other rewards, then immediately allow the dog to go back to playing with his friends. Repeat this several times and praise the dog each time he comes to you. The dog will quickly learn that coming to you means good things (treats and praise) and not bad ones (being taken away from the park).

If the dog does not master this particular type of training right away, try not to get discouraged. So called distraction training is one of the most difficult things to teach. Dogs are naturally social animals, and breaking away from the pack is one of the most difficult things you can ask your dog to do. Most dogs will be understandably reluctant to leave their canine companions, but it is important to persist.

Training the dog to come to you may require some creativity on your part at first. For instance, waving a favorite toy, or a lure, is a great way to get your dog’s attention and put the focus back on you. If your dog has been clicker trained, a quick click can be a good motivator as well.

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

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

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

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

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

Using distraction 

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

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

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

Desensitizing your dog’s fear 

Desensitization is a highly effective way to deal with phobias and fears in humans, and it can be very effective for dogs and other animals as well. Desensitization involves introducing the dog to small amounts of whatever noises frighten him. For instance, if the dog is afraid of thunder, try tape recording your next thunderstorm and play it back slowly when the dog is relaxed. Reward the dog for not showing fear responses. If he does show fear responses, do not comfort or soothe him but just ignore him.

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

No one likes to hear barking and yelping, and certainly no one likes to meet an aggressive dog on the street. Most dogs cannot be faulted for their behavior, but there are ways to change these things. Most dog owners have the best of intentions, but have no idea how to turn their pesky pup into a sweet and well-tempered dog. This is when obedience dog training is a great idea. This will help any owner learn how manage their animal when they need to be well behaved.

You can find obedience dog training as close as your community. There are normally programs in every town or city that specialize in obedience dog training. You will find that these courses vary in price, and are run by different types of folks. Some are conducted by those trained to help dogs, and others are run by those who have just had great success in the past with obedience dog training, and want to help you learn what they know.

In other cases, you may find obedience dog training available through your local pet store. Many chains have these classes, and they may offer them throughout the year. These will also vary in price, and you will want to call ahead to schedule the best classes to fit your life. Obedience dog training classes are many times held during the day, but you can also find ones that are run in the evening hours and on the weekends.

When you find the right obedience dog training course for you and your pet, you may be wondering what to expect. The trouble is, you never know what you are getting unless you ask. Many courses cover the basics of teaching your dog to heed your command, no matter what that command may be. They may teach the basics that most of us are familiar with, including sitting, heeling, and to stop barking. You may also find out secrets on how to stop aggressive behavior against other dogs and human beings.

If you and your dog have gone through obedience dog training, but things are still looking dim, you may need to find someone to work one on one with you and your pet. This type of obedience dog training may cost you a little more money, but you may end up with more bang for your buck this way. The trainer can then zoom in on your dog’s specific problems, and also help you where you are lacking. Dogs look to their human friends for guidance, almost like you are their pack leader, and you need to know how to assume this role effectively.

Many dog owners are anxious to give their four legged companions the freedom of going off leash, but it is important not to rush that important step. Dogs should only be allowed off their leash after they have become masters of all the basic obedience commands, such as walking at your heel, sitting and staying on command

Another skill that must be completely mastered before the dog can be taken off the leash is the come when called command. Even if the dog can heel, sit and stay perfectly, if he cannot be relied upon to come when called, he is not ready to be taken off the leash.

Taking any dog off the leash, especially in a busy, crowded area, or one with a lot of traffic, is a big step and not one to be taken lightly. It is vital to adequately test your dog in a safe environment before taking him off his leash. After all, the leash is the main instrument of control. You must be absolutely certain you can rely on your voice commands for control before removing the leash.

After the dog has been trained to understand the sit, stay and come when called commands, it is important to challenge the dog with various distractions. It is a good idea to start by introducing other people, other animals, or both, while the dog is in a safe environment like a fenced in yard. Have a friend or neighbor stand just outside the fence while you hold you dog on the leash. As the friend or family member walks around the outside of the fence, watch your dog’s reactions closely. If he starts to pull at the leash, quickly tug him back. 

Repeat this exercise until the dog will reliably remain at your side. After this, you can try dropping the leash, and eventually removing the leash and repeating the distraction. It is important to vary the distractions, such as introducing other animals, other people, traffic, rolling balls, etc.

After your dog is able to remain still in the face of distraction, start introducing the come when called lessons with distractions in place. Try inviting some of the neighbors, and their dogs, over to play. As the dogs are playing in the fenced in yard, try calling your dog. When the dog comes to you, immediately give him lots of praise, and perhaps a food reward. After the dog has been rewarded, immediately allow him to go back to playing. Repeat this several times throughout the day, making sure each time to reward the dog and immediately allow him to go back to his fun.

After the dog has seemingly mastered coming when called in his own yard, try finding a local dog park or similar area where you can practice with your dog. It is important to make the area small, or to choose a fenced in area, in case you lose control of the dog. If you cannot find a fenced in area, choose an area well away from people and cars. Practice with your dog by allowing him to play with other dogs, or just to sniff around, then calling your dog. When he comes to you, immediately reward and praise him, then let him resume his previous activities. Doing this will teach the dog that coming to you is the best option and the one most likely to bring both rewards and continued good times.

Only after the dog has consistently demonstrated the ability to come when called, even when there are many distractions around, is it safe to allow him time off leash. Off leash time should never be unsupervised time. It is important, both for your well being and your dog’s, that you know where he is and what he is doing at all times. It is easy for a dog to get into trouble quickly, so you should always keep an eye on him, whether he is chasing squirrels in the park, playing with other dogs, or just chasing a ball with the neighbor’s kids.

Of all the great gadgets in the world, there’s nothing that can ever replace the love of your dog. They come to you when you’re sick, and give you kisses when you’re sad. Your pet is one of the most loyal and loving individuals in your life, so you of course want the best for them. Above all, you want to ensure the safety and wellbeing of your dog, and the best device that can do that is a lighted dog collar.

Just as the name says, it is a collar for your dog that can be seen in the pitch black dark. Made of a glow-in-the-dark type material, lighted dog collars are perfect for many reasons. Aside from pet owners, a lighted dog collar can be widely used by K-9 law enforcement, search and rescue, and are recommended by both vets and trainers. If you care for your dog, you’ll realize that a lighted dog collar can show that love above all.

Since they are lighted, these collars will help ensure your pet’s safety. No matter how hard you try, sometimes your stubborn pooch manages to slip out of the house on occasion. If you live near a road or in a city, there’s a good possibility they could be hit by a car, especially if it’s night time, and you don’t get to them in time. A lighted dog collar is bright enough for a driver to see, and then in turn be able to avoid hitting your pet.

Regardless if you have an inside or outside pet, it is a smart and safe buy since accidents do happen. You can find a lighted dog collar in either your local discount store, or online. Depending on the brand, size, color and style you choose for your perky pooch, the price will vary.

Another nice benefit that they provide, aside from safety, is identification. Not only are you able to hook your tags on, but since the lighted dog collar is generally very noticeable, if your dog happens to get loose, you’ll have an easy way of informing people of something specific about your pet. This is highly beneficial, especially if your dog is a mixed breed because mixes are more difficult to describe.

This type of dog collar can be as unique as your own pet. Some styles can have paw prints all the way around the strip while others might have various items all around, such as bones and treats. These designs in a lighted dog collar can give your pet a very cute and innocent look, gifting them a style all to themselves. While style and fashion are generally not one of the most important assets to a dog, they sure can make you smile. But more importantly, the safety and security that a lighted dog collar provides makes everything else just an added bonus.

Do you have a pet? Maybe a nice little Persian kitten or Golden Retriever? Well, if you do have a pet, then you’re probably an animal lover. I’ve yet to meet someone who owned a pet, but didn’t like animals. Anyway, some interesting topics arise when it comes to domesticated animals now days. One of them is shock collars for dogs. How much negative reinforcement is too much? Are we actually protecting our pets or being cruel to them? This is an issue mocked and ridiculed in the media these days. Just check out the last Jim Carrey flick, “Fun with Dick and Jane.” He actually puts one of the contemporary shock collars for dogs around his own neck to test it out. However he is unpleasantly surprised by how strong it is. What do you think? Cruel and unusual or necessary?

Would you put one of the new shock collars for dogs on your pet? Maybe you already have one on your dog because he stays outdoors. I think it’s important to address why someone may purchase a shock collar. As we all know, many pets end up getting ran over by cars, trucks and rigs. This could be for any random reason. Maybe they simply aren’t paying attention, or maybe they spotted a rabbit and bolted after it. You have to remember that all of these animals run on instinct. They simply can’t help it. Therefore if you do decide to own and take care of one, it’s your responsibility to keep them safe.

Some times that may even involve measures such as shock collars for dogs. Since I don’t personally own a dog, I don’t have a first-hand take on things. On the contrary, I do own three cats. In fact my wife grew so sick and tired of them going upstairs to sleep under our bed that she purchased some shock collars for cats. To start and sort of test it out, she placed one shock collar on our largest cat. Now, you have to keep in mind that it will only zap them if they go where they’re not supposed to. It works more like a negative reinforcement than it does a literal punishment.

When we watched our cat interact and frolic about with it on, it was sadly ineffective. Either our cat is invulnerable to pain, or it’s simply not strong enough to bother him. In the end you may or may not want to give shock collars for dogs a shot. It all depends on your dog and the situation. If you would like more information, just hop online for the scoop.

Pulling on the leash is one of the most common misbehaviors seen on all kinds of dogs. Puppies and adult dogs alike can often be seen taking their owners for walks, instead of the other way around. Pulling on the leash can be much more than an annoying habit. Leash pulling can lead to escape in the case of a break in the collar or leash, and an out of control, off leash dog can be both destructive and dangerous to itself and to others.

Leash pulling can result from a variety of different things. In some cases, the dog may simply be so excited to go for a walk that he or she is unable to control themselves. In other cases, the dog sees itself as the leader of the pack, and he or she simply takes the “leadership position” at the front of the pack.

If excitement is the motivation for leash pulling, simply giving the dog a few minutes to calm down can often be a big help. Simply stand with the dog on the leash for a couple minutes and let the initial excitement of the upcoming walk pass. After the initial excitement ahs worn off, many dogs are willing to walk calmly on their leash.

If the problem is one of control, however, some retraining may be in order. All dog training starts with the owner establishing him or herself as the alpha dog, or pack leader, and without this basic respect and understanding, no effective training can occur. For dogs exhibiting these type of control issues, a step back to basic obedience commands is in order. These dogs can often be helped through a formal obedience school structure. The dog trainer will of course be sure to train the handler as well as the dog, and any good dog trainer will insist on working with the dog owner as well as the dog.

The basis of teaching the dog to walk calmly on the lead is teaching it to calmly accept the collar and lead. A dog that is bouncing up and down while the collar is being put on will not walk properly. Begin by asking your dog to sit down, and insisting that he sit still while the collar is put on. If the dog begins to get up, or gets up on his own after the collar is on, be sure to sit him back down immediately. Only begin the walk after the dog has sat calmly to have the collar put on, and continued to sit calmly as the leash is attached.

Once the leash is attached, it is important to make the dog walk calmly toward the door. If the dog jumps or surges ahead, gently correct him with a tug of the leash and return him to a sitting position. Make the dog stay, then move on again. Repeat this process until the dog is walking calmly by your side.

Repeat the above process when you reach the door. The dog should not be allowed to surge out of the door, or to pull you through the open door. If the dog begins this behavior, return the dog to the house and make him sit quietly until he can be trusted to walk through the door properly. Starting the walk in control is vital to creating a well mannered dog.

As you begin your walk, it is vital to keep the attention of the dog focused on you at all times. Remember, the dog should look to you for guidance, not take the lead himself. When walking, it is important to stop often. Every time you stop, your dog should stop. Getting into the habit of asking your dog to sit down every time you stop is a good way to keep your dog’s attention focused on you. Make sure your dog is looking at you, then move off again. If the dog begins to surge ahead, immediately stop and ask the dog to sit. Repeat this process until the dog is reliability staying at your side. Each time the dog does what you ask him to, be sure to reward him with a treat, a toy or just your praise.

Remember that if your dog pulls on the leash and you continue to walk him anyway, you are inadvertently rewarding that unwanted behavior. Dogs learn whether you are teaching them or not, and learning the wrong things now will make learning the right things later that much harder. It is important to be consistent in your expectations. Every time the dog begins to pull ahead, immediately stop and make the dog sit. Continue to have the dog sit quietly until his focus is solely on you. Then start out again, making sure to immediately stop moving if the dog surges ahead.

One of my best friends is a wonderful woman that is trying to parent her two children on her own. Her husband died when she was eight months pregnant with their second child. She works full time and still manages to do a great job in parenting the children. Her husband has been dead for eight years. During that time both of her parents also passed away along with the dog that she had for twelve years. Two years ago she decided to get another dog. She bought a terrier that is very head strong. When it was a puppy she talked about enrolling him in dog obedience training, but the breeder told her to wait until the dog was a year old.

My husband and I raise and train hunting dogs. We begin dog obedience training as soon as they are weaned from the litter. I explained this to my friend, but she thought she should listen to the breeder. She thought it made a difference that her dog was a terrier and ours are Labrador Retrievers. Her dog has always been quite difficult to be around. He barks and jumps up on people when they come to the door. She does tell him no and removes him from the situation, but he was given no other training. When she takes him on a walk she uses and extension leash, so the dog has full control over the situation.

Now that the dog is two years old and weights fifty pounds she is trying to discipline him, and she is running into resistance. He still barks and jumps on people. Over the summer he bit a child in the hand. Her son told her that this child has been mean to the dog in the past. The bite did not require medical attention and the parents of the child did not pursue any action. My friend thought this was an isolated incident and that it had occurred due to this child being mean to the dog. Two months ago the dog jumped on a neighbor’s child and scratched his face. The scratches were so deep that the child required stitches. My friend decided that she needed to get the dog obedience training immediately or she may be facing a law suit. The humane society suggested that she hire a trainer that comes into the home and works with the family and the animal to correct behavior problems. This situation seemed to go beyond the realm of basic dog obedience training.

The trainer came to the house and met the dog and my friend and her children. The trainer listened to the concerns and then developed the dog obedience training specifically for their dog. The process is supposed to take about six weeks to correct the dog’s behaviors. My friend agrees that she should have listened to me and started the dog obedience training when her dog was a puppy.