Dog Training Ultimate Guide

No matter what kind of a dog you have, one of the most difficult tasks you will be faced with is potty training your dog. As with kids, it takes time to potty train your dog and help them learn where the appropriate place to go to the bathroom is. If you are going to have any luck at all, you have to start by taking them out frequently.

Even and older newly adopted dogs, needs to know and get used to where it is you want them to go. Take them outside as much as possible and try to stay with them so they know this is where they are supposed to go. By staying with them you’ll make them feel comfortable and safe. They will soon realize that this is the place to do their business.

Dogs have smaller bladders than us, and therefore have to pee more frequently. The smaller the dog, the smaller the bladder. Puppies cannot hold it all night. Even during the day, you must keep your eye on them, because it only takes a second to stain your carpet. Watch for any signs that they may need to go. These signs sometimes include, turning in circles or squatting. If you think they are ready to let loose, scoop them up and show them the right spot.

It is important you do not vary their diet while potty training your dog. This will create a change in their system which will ultimately fluctuate their bathroom cycle. Maintaining a consistent diet will help them get used to the food they are eating allowing their stomach to properly digest the food.

Keep your treat giving to a minimum. I know that’s near impossible to do with a cute new puppy, but treats will mess up their diets even more. Give them a small, healthy treat after they have a triumphant potty session, this will reinforce their notion that going in a specific area is a good thing.

Because dogs of all ages also need and love exercise, try to take them out for walks often. When getting ready, call them and say something like, “do you want to go outside” in a happy voice. In time they will associate those words with something happy. At the same time, use that same phrase when you want them to go out and do their business. Get them used to thinking that going outside is the fun place to be.

On the other hand, if they do have an “accident” inside, you should treat them to negative reinforcement. This can be done humanely by, not talking to them, pinching their ear a loud noise such as a clap, or my favorite, a water spray with a spritzer. They will in turn associate this negative behavior with their “accident”.

A true accident is no one’s fault but our own, if their diet was changed or were not let out in time, or were frightened by something, you can hardly blame the dog. Use your common sense, a few small, healthy treats and lots of love and you’ll have your puppy trained in no time.

If your dog’s behavior persists or get worse, you might want to call in the top guns. Check out other in-depth training practices that will teach you much more than the basics covered here.

Alex is a freelance graphic artist & marketing pro with a love of writing and pets. She has a long and special history with pets and has studied what works and what doesn’t when teaching them. If you enjoyed this article, check out her website Henri’s Online Dog Obedience School or visit her blog Henri’s Pet Tips, Tips & Trivia.

If your dog is overweight, the only one to blame is yourself. If you allow your dog to continue eating the way he is, he risks the possibilities of developing life threatening diseases like diabetes and painful conditions such as arthritis. Your dog deserves to live a healthy, happy life.

Unfortunately, statistics show that roughly 40% of American pets are overweight. They are not far behind their human counterparts, Americans in general measure in at just over 60% overweight. When it comes to your pet’s weight, you are the only one in control. You must resist the temptation to overfeed your dog no matter how much he will try to get you to five in.

It’s pretty simple. If your dog is overweight (ie: fat) it means he’s eating too much! Dogs are not naturally fat, they get that way by overeating and not having enough exercise unless they have a medical problem such as heart or thyroid problems. You should check with your vet if you feel this may be your pet’s problem. Make sure that you are honest with your vet and tell him the truth about how much and what kind of food your dog eats, including treats and also about how much daily exercise he gets.

DON’T MAKE EXCUSES

Are you giving your dog rewards for negative behaviors? Things like: He won’t go to bed until he gets his special treat, is something that you have taught him. You might think that it’s cute, but all you’ve done is teach him bad manners. Now he knows that if he makes a fuss, he’ll get a treat.

And the classic excuse for overweight dogs is the one that goes “Buster won’t eat dog food.” Oh really? Then what does Buster eat? You got it, table scraps and whatever it wants. Once again the dog has succeeded in training the owners to give it what IT wants. And it worked, but the dog is paying the price for it physically. Hard not to overeat when you’re getting the “select” goodies isn’t it? Remember this, it is NOT up to the DOG to choose what it eats in your house – it is up to YOU – the owner. And you choose the best high quality nutritious feed on the market or make it at home.

BUSTER YOU NEED EXERCISE AND GO ON A DOG DIET

Step one is to purchase a good nutritious dog food. One that has meat or meat by-products listed as the first ingredients, not fillers like grains or rice. If your dog enjoys the taste of the food, he`s going to eat it.

Weigh your dog at the start of his diet and decrease the amount of food you presently give him by one third, including treats and snacks. Be strong and don’t give in to begging and whining. Try to replace fattening treats with something healthy. Never think that you are harming them, they will soon learn that begging doesn’t work. At the end of two weeks, weight your dog again.

If Buster has lost weight at the end of the two week dog diet, then stick to this schedule. If he hasn’t lost any weight, reduce his intake by another one third and also find out if someone else in the house is treating Buster.

Even though there are some “diet” dog foods on the market, I would avoid them as they are usually high in carbohydrates which can produce extra insulin.

WHAT IS THE SOLUTION?

Instead of showing your dog how much you love him through food, choose better, more healthy ways to bond. Get more exercise. Both of you will benefit from going on extra walks and playing games rather than sitting at home and eating. There are plenty of healthy dog foods on the market that will taste great for your dog. You certainly never have to worry that your dog is missing out on anything just because he’s not eating table scraps. In the end, both you and your dog are going to benefit from living a healthier life style.

Alex is a freelance graphic artist with a passion for writing and pets. She has a long and personal background with pets and has taken note of what works and what doesn’t when training them. If you liked this article, check out a couple of her others, like Why Are Some Dogs Afraid Of Thunder? or Is Your Dog At Risk . . . Effects Of Sun & Heat On Dogs.

After welcoming a baby in to the world you are probably concerned about how your dog is going to react to him or her. Many people surrender their pets to shelters because of exhibited jealousy from their dog after a new baby’s arrival and fear of the infant being harmed by the animal. Yet many families have been successful in introducing their dogs to the new baby.

Just as with any other training practice you introduce to your dog, it will take time, patience and care to make sure the welcome is perfect. You must make sure that your dog acts appropriately around the baby which means you have to prepare the dog as much as possible in advance.

Preparing your dog: Preparing your dog for the baby’s arrival in advance is one of the best ways to help avoid friction and jealousy between your baby and your dog. Your dog is used to your attention and pampering, some jealousy will naturally surface when your new baby becomes the center of attention. Taking some precautions, a few minutes of quality time and some extra treats can go a long way! Be sure to:

* Take your dog to your local Veterinarian for a complete checkup a few months before the baby arrives. Worms and parasites can be harmful to your baby so be sure to worm your dog before the baby arrives and at the normal intervals to keep on top of this problem. If your dog is not spayed or neutered, this is also the time to get it done.

* Encourage friends with infants to visit your home to accustom your pet to babies. Supervise all pet and infant interactions.

* Lots of new objects are going to be coming into the house so show them to your pup and let him become familiar with the. Let him smell you’re baby’s things like the shampoo or powder and lotions. Right before the baby comes home, have someone take a piece of clothing that your baby wore in the hospital home for your dog to sniff.

* Accustom your pet to baby-related noises months before the baby is expected. For example, play recordings of a baby crying (there are CDs out now for this exact training purpose – (see www.soundtherapy4pets.com/ for CDs with baby noises), turn on the mechanical infant swing, and use the rocking chair. Make these positive experiences for your pet by offering a treat or playtime.

* Never allow your dog to jump on or sleep on anything that belongs to the baby, such as her bed, change table or play area. You have to let the dog know that this furniture is not for him. Also don’t let him play with any of the baby’s toys as he may think they belong to him and try to take them away from the baby. Don’t buy any toys for the dog that resemble the babies toys either.

* If the baby’s room will be off-limits to your pet, install a sturdy barrier such as a removable gate (available at pet or baby supply stores) or, for jumpers, even a screen door. Because these barriers still allow your dog to see and hear what’s happening in the room, your dog will feel less isolated from the family and more comfortable with the new baby noises.

* Like they say “Fake it until you make it.” Get a pretend baby to carry and stroll about before the real one comes. Treat it as you would a baby and take your dog for walks and other types of things that you will be doing together when the baby arrives so he gets used to the new routines. Hopefully no one thinks you’re weird.

* The most important thing to instill in your dog is to make sure he knows who is the boss. He must understand that you and your family are the alphas in this relationship. Keep your eye on the dog at all times and be sure to reprimand him whenever he shows and signs of jealously towards the baby.

In my next article, I’ll cover all the things I recommend for the actual meeting of your new baby. Stay tuned or sign up for Henri’s Pet Tips and Tricks e-newsletter on my website.

Alex is a freelance graphic designer with a passion for writing and pets. She has a long and personal history with pets and has studied what works and what doesn’t when training them. If you enjoyed this article, check out a few of her others, like Does Your Dog Have Separation Anxiety? or Reasons Why You Should Groom Your Dog.

There is no hiding the fact that every owner wants to have a calm and obedient dog that gets along with everyone. Unfortunately, this is not always the case at first. Not only will a well trained dog get along with family members, but it will respect visitors and other dogs as well. Here are some dog obedience training tips to help you turn your dog into a courteous part of the family.

The first thing you want to train your dog with is the basic commands. Things like heel, sit, stay and down can be the cornerstone for teaching your dog how to act obedient around others.

It is important your dog understands heel so that it can walk by your side on a loose collar without you pulling them. Another word you want to familiarize your dog with is no. They need to know when they are doing something bad indicating they need to stop.

From there, teach your dog to sit as this will make the training far easier if they comply to what you are saying. Not only should they know sit, but stay as well. This shows that you have control over the dog and they will do whatever you tell them.

What you need to know is that the dog training tips in this article are not just going to turn your dog into an obedient pup that does what you tell them. It can actually strengthen the relationship the two of you have with each other. As you show leadership and begin teaching them, they are going to look at you as a leader much like in a pack.

You need to learn how to step up and guide them in the right direction. If you are hesitant, your dog is going to notice. It is vital you establish yourself as the dominant figure and properly train your dog with whatever you are teaching them.

Having an obedient dog not only helps you, it helps your dog as well. As he learns more he’ll grow more confident, making him feel stronger and smarter than before. They will be more relaxed and trusting knowing that you’ve got their back.Don’t forget the extra exercise you’ll both get with all this added outdoor activities.

Always give them a small healthy treat when they perform well, and a firm but gentle scolding when they disobey. If you keep these training methods up, you’ll be surprised how much more happy both you and your dog have become.

Don’t let the learning stop with your pet. You need to educate yourself as well. You can learn so much at home through books, dvds and the internet and avoid costly professional training sessions.

Alex is a freelance graphic designer with a passion for writing and pets. She has a hands-on and personal history with pets and has taken not of what works and what doesn’t work when training them. If you enjoyed this article, check out her other pet related articles;Why Physical Force Will Not Help Train Your Dog or Why Are Dogs Afraid Of Thunder?.

Overly aggressive dogs are just not acceptable in society. It is never OK to put a child, another dog or even a member of your family in harms way. Often the aggressive dogs are the most fearful of new things, so let’s take a look at four tips to help socialize you pet and make him a friendly member of society.

Are you embarrassed or angered by your dogs behavior when you go for walks? Does your dog act like an animal possessed? Too much pulling and barking and high blood pressure is going to be harmful to your dog in the long run. Your pup needs to learn some self-confidence.

1. Train with friends Confidence building and security are the first things to teach your dog. This can be done through training sessions. All dogs have fears, some fear running children or other dogs or people you may encounter on your walks. The best way to tackle this problem is to put them in a controlled environment that they will learn is safe for them. For instance, have different friends join you on your walks and have your friend give them a treat at the end of it. This will help them learn to trust other people besides yourself.

2. Socialization Many times an aggressive dog is not used to being around other dogs and as a result, they will show aggression. Fortunately, you can alter this personality and teach them to enjoy the company of other dogs. Start out by keeping your dog on a leash in an area with a few other dogs that are calm and comfortable. If your dog shows signs up anger, hold the leash tight and give it a yank here and there. Show them they need to learn to play nice.

3. Stay away from other aggressive dogs If you have friends who have aggressive dogs, keep them away from your dog. If on your walk you always encounter another aggressive dog in, say their backyard, change your walk route. Just as you would not want to hang out with mean or aggressive people, keep your dog away from mean and aggressive dogs. Try to introduce them only to calm, friendly, playful dogs and they will learn that other dogs are not a threat to them or you.

4. Consider a Muzzle If your dog is really aggressive, snarling and scaring little children and old men you might want to consider a muzzle during your initial training sessions. Your dog will become accustomed to it in a short time. To help him ease into the muzzle, put in on him in the backyard or when you’re playing with him. He will come to accept it and in time you can remove it as he improves.

The most important thing to remember with any form of dog training is consistency! No person or pup is going to learn something if they don’t know what it is they are supposed to be learning. It`s true what they say, practice makes perfect.

Alex is a freelance graphic artist & with a passion for writing and pets. She has a long and personal background with pets and has studied what works and what doesn’t when training them. If you enjoyed this article, check out her other pet related articles; Puppy Potty Training Tips or Is Your Dog’s Barking Driving You Crazy?.