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.

One of the most serious, and unfortunately most common, problem behaviors among dogs is that of chasing cars. Dogs must be trained as early as possible that chasing cars is not acceptable. That is because dogs that chase cars eventually become dogs that catch cars, and car plus dog always equals big trouble.

There are many reasons that dogs chase cars. For one thing, chasing moving objects is an ingrained, instinctual behavior that can never be completely removed. Chasing behaviors, however can and should be controlled through a combination of good training and supervision.

Some dogs are more apt to chase cars, bikes, joggers, cats and other dogs than are others. Dogs that have a high prey drive, including breeds that have been bred for hunting, are particularly susceptible to the thrill of the chase. Herding breeds are also apt to chase cars, attempt to herd the neighbors children, or express other undesired traits of their breeding.

One reason that many dogs chase cars in particular is that they have learned to associate cars with good time and fun things. Most dogs love to ride in the car, and when they see a car they may try to chase it down for a ride.

No matter what your dog’s motivation for chasing cars, however, it is important to curb this dangerous behavior as quickly as possible. Training the dog not to chase cars starts with teaching the dog the meaning of the “Off” command.  The “Off” command is one of the basic tenets of obedience, and it must be mastered by every dog.

Teaching the dog to stay where he is, even if interesting, exciting things are happening elsewhere, is very important to all aspects of dog training. In the world of professional dog training, this is sometimes referred to as distraction training. Distraction training is very important, and it is applicable to teaching the dog not to chase cars.

Teaching this important lesson is not something you will be able to do on your own. You will need at least one other person – a volunteer who will slowly drive by and tempt your car with his bright, shiny object. You will stand with your dog on his leash as the volunteer drives by. Having the volunteer drive your own car can provide an even greater temptation, since dogs are able to distinguish one car from another. If your car is the one that provides his rides, it is likely to be the most tempting object in the world.

When your friend drives by, either in your car or his, watch your dog’s reaction carefully. If he begins to jump up or move away, repeat the “Off” command and quickly return your dog to the sitting position. If he remains where he is, be sure to give him lavish amounts of praise and perhaps a treat or two.

Repeat this process many times over the course of a few days. Once your dog is reliably remaining seated when your friend drives by, start lengthening the distance between yourself and your dog. A long, retractable leash works great for this process. Slowly lengthen the distance between you and your dog, while still making sure you have control.

Even after your dog is trained to not chase cars, however, it is important to not leave him out off the leash unsupervised. Leaving a dog unattended, except for within a properly and securely fenced in yard, is simply asking for trouble. Dogs are unpredictable, and it is always possible that the chase instinct could kick in at exactly the wrong moment. The best strategy is to confine the dog when you cannot supervise him.

With dogs as with people, some dogs and puppies are naturally more bold and daring than others. When you watch a group of puppies play, it will quickly become apparent which ones are bold and which ones are shy. Some of the puppies will hang back at the edge of the pack, perhaps fearful of angering the stronger dogs, while others will jump right into the fray and start jostling for control.

Working with a shy puppy or dog, or one that is fearful, presents its own special challenges. Of course bold, forceful dogs present challenges of their own, especially with control and leadership issues. Every type of puppy or dog has its own unique personality, and its own unique training challenges as a result.

One important reason to build confidence in a fearful dog is to prevent biting. High fear dogs often become biters to deal with their fear of new situations, and this type of fear response can be dangerous for you and your dog. It is important to teach the puppy or dog that new situations and new people are nothing to fear, and that they are not out to hurt him.

Signs of fear in both puppies and dogs include being afraid of strangers, being leery of new situations, and avoiding certain people or objects. A fearful puppy or dog may also snap or bite, especially when cornered. 

If you recognize signs of fear in your dog or puppy, it is important to act quickly. Fear responses can quickly become ingrained in a dog, and once those fear memories are planted they can be difficult to erase. Properly socializing a young puppy is essential to making sure your dog is not fearful, and will not become a fear biter. Many puppies are raised as only dogs, but even these puppies should be given the opportunity to play with other puppies, and with well socialized older dogs and friendly cats as well. The more novel situations the puppy encounters when he is young, the better he will be able to adapt to new situations as an adult dog.

Adapting to new and changing situations is a vital life skill that every puppy must learn. As you know, the world is constantly changing and adapting, and it is vital that both you and your four legged companion learn to take these changes in stride.

It is important for owners to not inadvertently reinforce or reward shy or fearful behaviors. For instance, when a puppy or dog shows fear, by whining, crying or hiding, it is only natural for the owner to go over and reassure the dog. This type of reassurance, however, can be misinterpreted by the animal as a sign of approval from the pack leader.

When the dog or puppy displays fearful or shy behavior, the best strategy is simply to ignore him. The dog must be able to learn on his own that there is nothing to fear. If left alone, a dog will often start to explore the fearful object on his own, thereby learning that the initial fear reaction was mistaken. The owner must allow the dog to explore things on his own, and not try to coddle or over protect him.

Another reason for fear reactions, particularly in older dogs, is past abuse or lack of proper socialization as puppies. The window for good puppy socialization is relatively short, and once this window has closed it can be difficult to teach a dog how to socialize with dogs and other animals. Likewise, a dog that has been abused probably has all sorts of negative associations, and it is up to a patient owner to work with the dog to replace those fear reactions with more appropriate responses.

When working with an older fearful dog, it is important not to try to rush the socialization and fear abatement process. It is best to simply allow the dog to explore things on his own, even if it means he spends a lot of time hiding from the perceived monster. Trying to force the dog to confront the things he fears will do more harm than good.

It is also important to address already ingrained fear based behaviors, such as biting, snapping and growling, whether they result from past abuse, a lack of socialization or a combination of factors. If the dog is frightened and reacts defensively to strangers, it is important to introduce him slowly. It is important to correct these potentially dangerous behaviors, however, and teach the dog that fear is no excuse for growling, snapping or biting. The best way to do this is to immediately reprimand and correct the dog when he bites, snaps or growls at anyone. 

A family my husband and I are friendly with have a very large dog. And every time we go to their house, the dog hears us coming as we’re driving up the driveway and announces our arrival by barking its fool head off. But last Saturday night when we pulled up to the house, there was complete silence. My husband and exchanged glances as we were walking up to the door, hoping that the dogs hadn’t died since we had last been there. We soon found out that the dog was indeed alive and well, it had just been fitted with a no bark dog collar.

Our friends had received complaints from some of the neighbors about the noise the dog was making in the neighborhood, so rather than give the dog up, or keep it locked in the house, they decided to try out a no bark dog collar first. The idea behind the no bark dog collar is that it attaches at the dog’s vocal chords and gives the dog small shocks to get its attention and keep it from barking. Because it uses a combination of vibration detection and sound detection to indicate when to shock the barking dog, the collar is sophisticated enough to know when another dog is barking, and will not zap your dog by mistake.

I was surprised when I first saw the no bark dog collar in use. Because it was a relatively new device for the dog, he had not yet learned the key lesson of the no bark dog collar: Shut up and you will not be zapped. Every time the dog would start to bark, it would immediately stop and whimper a little. Probably from the shock administered through the collar that was teaching the dog to stop barking. Evidently it takes a little time for the dog to make the correlation, and depending on the intelligence of the specific breed, it could take a little while for it to finally register the relationship between barking and pain. Eventually though, most dogs usually figure it out.

If I had a dog of my own I’m not sure I would fit it with a no bark dog collar. I’m pretty sure dogs are meant to bark, just like people are meant to speak. It is how we communicate. I don’t judge anyone for choosing to use this device, least of all our friends who now have a much quieter house and happier neighbors. I would rather just not have a dog than have to spend time and money trying to get it to surrender its natural instincts.

If you own a dog, you know one of the biggest concerns you have is making sure your dog gets enough exercise. Not only do they need to be walked for the sake of exercise, they also need to be walked in order to use the ‘restroom’. Because many of us are so busy, we often don’t have the time to get them all the exercise they need during the day. This means they have to be walked at night. Even in the safest areas accidents can happen. This is why you should get your pet reflective dog collars for your nighttime walks.

Reflective dog collars are a great way to give drivers a heads up when they are driving at night. It seems the moment we step out of our cars we forget how hard it is to see at night. Even the best and most alert drivers can miss things, and shadows seem to blend into shadows, especially at twilight. You may think a driver can see you, but you can never count on that. If you have reflective dog collars on your pets, you are giving the driver of any vehicle a better chance of seeing you if you dart out from between cars, or even if you are using the crosswalk like you should.

You can find reflective dog collars anywhere you find regular collars, though they may cost you a little more. It’s always worth the price, however, because they can help keep your dogs and you safe after dark. Reflective dog collars often contain the same material that you might see on other reflective items like emergency uniforms, or safety markings on roadways. They should be able to reflect light from a high distance, and alert any driver that a living creature is moving about ahead of them.

You can also find these reflective dog collars online, and you may find a better price by shopping this way. If you have already spent a lot of money on quality collars, you can make your own reflective dog collars out of what you already have. You can buy the reflective material in craft or fabric stores, and then securely glue them with powerful glue to the existing collars you own. Make sure you use enough reflective material, and you may even want to attach some to your leashes and your own jacket or shoes as well.

My husband and I decided to surprise our son with a new puppy for his 10th birthday a few weeks ago. He had been asking for a pet for the longest time, but we didn’t feel that he was ready to handle the responsibility until now. One condition we placed on adopting the puppy was that my son would be completely responsible for the dog’s care. He would have to take his puppy for walks, play with it, feed it, make sure it had access to fresh water, and train it. To help my son carry out his responsibility, we also bought a couple of dog training books for him to read.

After careful consideration, we decided that dog training books would be a better option than obedience classes for a few different reasons. For instance, we wanted our son to develop a strong bond with his new pet and figured that using dog training books instead of obedience classes would allow him to spend more time with the puppy. In addition, our son would get a bigger sense of accomplishment from teaching his puppy basic commands through techniques learned in dog training books. He would be doing everything on his own and could take full credit for the way the animal turned out. And finally, we thought it would be handy to have dog training books around the house for a quick reference should any behavioral problems come up.

There were so many dog training books at the local bookstore that it was pretty overwhelming trying to sort through all the choices. I didn’t really know anything about dogs, so had no idea which trainers or methods were successful and which weren’t. Before making a purchase, it was imperative for me to find out more about how to train dogs in general. So I went online to do as much research as possible in the time I had before my son’s birthday. Once I had some good information to work with, I felt comfortable enough to choose several dog training books that were appropriate both for my son’s age and for the dog’s breed. I also decided to buy a couple of the trainer’s aids recommended in the manuals, including a special leash and collar.

As I said before, it’s been a few weeks since we brought the puppy home. I’m proud to say that my son has been holding up his end of the bargain admirably and is really making progress thanks to the tips and advice in the dog training books. We’re sure that he’ll continue to do exceptionally well in teaching his pet basic commands and more, and we’re looking forward to watching this new friendship blossom!

Do you have a K-9? That is super-scientifically advanced talk for “dog.” If you are a dog owner, where do you keep him/her? Is it an indoor pet, or does he have to stay outside? This will certainly have some effect on your pet’s personality. In fact, indoor pets are likely to be happier than ones who’re always forced to stay outdoors. They just can’t receive the same level of love and affection if kept outside. Now, another concern when owning a dog is dog obedience training. What have you taught your K-9? Does he/she know how to sit, stay, roll over, and stay out of trouble? These are definitely some of the basics, but dog obedience training goes much further than this if you’re interested.

You’ve got to love pets. No matter how rough they have it or how much you’re gone at work; they tend to still love you more than anything. Okay, so I’m really just talking about dogs here. If you’ve ever owned a cat, then you must know that they can be quite bitter if neglected. Just try leaving your feline alone for a week with just food, water and a litter box. He/she may just pee in your shoe or poop on your couch out of mere spite. This is common in the cat community. They want revenge on those who neglect them.

Dogs on the other hand aren’t typically so bitter. Even with out a few dog obedience training classes, your K-9 will still probably do alright. However, if you have what’s considered a vicious dog, who may attack someone at random when you’re walking them, you may want to acquire dog obedience training. This is for your own protection and the protection of your dog. Hey you don’t want your loving pet attacking some child who just happens to look them in the eye. This would be a catastrophe.

I recall one man back where I used to live, who had a young daughter that was attacked by a pit bull, while the owner was out walking him. The aggressive dog leaped forward at the child and bit her face. Later that day the man showed up at the owner’s home and proceeded to beat the pit bull to death with a bat in his kennel. There were no charges brought against him. This is just something to consider when owning a dog. Although you assume your K-9 is perfectly harmless, he/she may need some special attention or dog obedience training. It’s worth looking into.

Some items that are designed for safety end up being so amusing that it’s easy to forget that it’s a safety item and begin to treat it like a toy. Some things that come to mind are glow sticks, reflectors placed on clothing in an outline of bizarre pictures that light up when a headlight is shined on them, and the current favorite in our household: the lighted dog collar.

I’m not sure who came up with the idea that a dog should wear a collar with bulbs that light up like a Christmas tree around its neck. I realize it originated as a safety precaution, but in the dark out in the yard at night, especially on a black dog, a lighted dog collar can be a very amusing spectacle. It’s almost as good as the night we discovered that we could break open glow sticks, paint our cats in silly designs all over their bodies and then let them run around in the neighborhood. It’s a jolting image to see a fluorescent smiley face traveling at full speed close to the ground across a dark parking lot.

The first time I saw a dog wearing a lighted dog collar I was on the beach at night and I saw what looked like a glowing line running along the beach toward the water. I thought I was hallucinating until I took a closer look and realized that the glowing line was attached to a dog’s neck. After that I was convinced that every dog should wear a lighted collar at night because it looks so cool. We went to the store and bought our pet a lighted dog collar of his very own the next day.

The dog freaked out the first time we fitted him with his lighted dog collar and let him run around the yard in the dark. He acted as though something was chasing him, and he kept trying to bite and attack his own neck. It was kind of like watching a cat chase its own tail. After a while he got used to the collar and stopped noticing it. It was then that the real fun began. We played fetch with him by tossing a glowing frisbee across the yard for him to catch. We sat on the deck and laughed each time the dog caught the frisbee and ran it back to us with his whole head practically glowing, from the combination of the glowing frisbee in his mouth and the lighted dog collar on his neck. We eventually grew tired of laughing at our dog, and went in for the night. Now we only break out the lighted dog collar when we have company. So they can marvel in its freaky magnificence.

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.