Training Your Dog

Training your dog can be time consuming and frustrating at times, but it's well worth it. Here are several tips that should help things go much smoother and faster... plus reduce the frustration both you and your dog feel!

Conduct "play training" where by the training tasks are made into fun games and your dog's play drive is used as motivation. There are a lot of really good books available on this type of training.

Intelligent dogs can also be stubborn, so you may have to outwit them! While training your dog, you have to make him want to do what you want him to. You can't make him do stuff unless it is fun. Otherwise you are wasting both your time and his. Try to make your dog's training so fun that it becomes his or her favorite activity. This will make learning much easier and more enjoyable.

Most dogs love to play! You can make your dog the happiest just by spending some time with them, giving your undivided attention each day. Without this, your dog will feel ignored, bored, or think they're in trouble. When this happens they're more likely to chew, tear things up, and not listen to you. Here are some tried and true tactics you can use to make your dogs listen to you more:

When playing with your puppy, play at his level. If play is encouraged at ground level, this builds your role as the dominant, or "top dog", when you are standing and training your puppy. If the puppy is allowed to jump up and initiate play, then this can lead to unwanted jumping up as your dog gets older.

From the very beginning, make sure your dogs know you are the master. This is usually accomplished with simple tasks such as teaching the dog to raise it's paw for a handshake; kissing your hand; or rolling over on command to show submission.

There is no need for extreme measures to prove you are the boss. Obedience training should be both fun and rewarding for you and your dog.

Make sure your dog always eats after you do. This is one of the easiest ways to show your dog who is the boss. This is especially important if you share your food with your dog, because if you let them eat while you are, they could develop the habit of taking food right off your - or someone else's - plate. You may need to train your family to follow this rule too... and that could be harder than training the dog ;)

Very active young dogs have short attention span, and some breeds are worse than others. So it's best to have several short 5-10 minute training lessons instead of one long one.

Start the training at quiet places familiar to your dog, and be sure there are very few things and people around to distract him. Gradually move the training to places with more and more distractions so he will learn to obey your commands despite those distractions.

Speak to your dog strongly but not in an angry voice. Be kind but be firm while training and never give in to what they want. It seems cruel but in the long run you will have a much better relationship with you dog.

Celebrate after every training session for a good job done. Have a big play by running and throwing his favorite toys. If you give them a lot of playtime with yourself they'll listen to you more.

Don't confuse your dog by trying to use different words for one command. One word commands work best, and they should always be consistent. For example, when your dog gets on the lounge with you, say "sit" and he should sit. Then if you want him to lay down, say "lay" and he should do so.

Also note how well your dog seems to understand your command words. Some dogs may not be able to distinquish between two words that sound the same. For instance: "lay" and "stay" sound very similar. With one of my own dogs, I've had to use the word "sleep" in place of lay, in order for him to understand me fully.

To keep your dog from charging the front door each time it opens, try putting up a door or gate that he can't see through or hop over. Have him wait until people enter and come up the stairs. Then give him a treat for waiting.

In closing: no matter how well trained you think your dog is, he usually has an attention span of seconds. So be careful not to let him run away, because some dogs will simply keep going and going as they find new things to chase.

Always keep your dog leashed securely when they're outdoors, unless you have a secure fence. Beware though: Some dogs can actually jump fences, even when you think they're high enough, and some even climb trees too. And most dogs run much faster than any human can so if your dog gets loose, it could be quite dangerous for him.

You can find information, pictures and articles about boxer dogs at dog-owner.net

---

Indoor Dogfishing ? Fun Way To Exercise A Small Or Medium Size Dog

When I had a Toy Poodle, I used a small beanie baby toy tied to a twenty foot long cord to exercise him for at least ten minutes at a time, twice a... Read More

Beds for the Pets: Sleeping in Comfort

As we love to have a comfortable place to sleep so do the animals. So there are various types of beds for the pets to give them a comfortable sleep. Most of us... Read More

German Sheperds

People love big, protective and loving dogs and that's why there are a lot of german sheperd breeders.The German Shepherd is sometimes called an Alsatian because that's where they originated in Germany. Many... Read More

Introducing a New Puppy into a Home with an Existing Pet

It was November and I had spent 3 months searching for just the right puppy. Finally we had found what we considered to be the perfect one. Luckily she was already 7 weeks... Read More

Tips that May Help Your Arthritic Dog

Arthritis refers to inflammation or swelling in a joint. The cause can be abnormal bone or joint development, instability of the surrounding ligaments and tendons, damage or injury to the joint, an infection,... Read More

Cold Weather Pet Care

As we find ourselves in the middle of winter, it's important to pay particular attention to our pets when they're outside. When temperatures get into the twenties and below, with whipping winds, pets... Read More

A Moving Experience: Making Your Move Easy on Your Parrots

Moving is about as stressful a time as any in our lives and the lives of our fids. Having just completed moving the "gang" into a new house, I thought I would share... Read More

Cushings Disease

As our horses enjoy a longer life and many live well into old age so the number of horses with Cushing increases as its more common in older horses especially ponies. It can... Read More

Westie Puppies For Sale ? 7 Important Questions To Ask Your West Highland Terrier Breeder

Let's say you've made up your mind on the breed you want, which is a cute westie puppies for sale. The next step to take is finding a responsible breeder. You can do... Read More

Thats No Paris Hilton! An Overview of Dog Obedience Training Videos

Mention the word "video" and different people would come up with different ideas. Some would remember those home movies they made during special occasions spent with family and friends. Others would be reminded... Read More

Frustrated Over High Veterinarian Bills?

Over the past 30 years we have learned so much about taking good care of our pets, right? We feed them "premium" high dollar pets foods, give them tasty packaged treats, vaccinate them... Read More

7 Good Reasons to Have Your Cat Spayed or Neutered

Every year, many cat owners decide to get their cat spayed or neutered. This decision is made for several different reasons, all of which illustrate why it is such a good idea.The many... Read More

Ensure a Good Relationship Between Your Cat and Your Kids

Many parents know that the best way for children to learn compassion and the importance of keeping commitments is by helping to care for a pet. Children learn from watching the adults in... Read More

Train Your Dog To Be Your Frisbee Playing Buddy

On the surface playing Frisbee with your dog may seem like just a bit of fun, but this activity actually holds other benefits as well.1. Certain breeds are accustomed to an active lifestyle,... Read More

Those Amazing Dog Noses -- Fun Facts About A Chilly Little Organ

If you thought dog noses were just a source of smeary prints on your windows, think again!========How Nose Prints save dog's lives======Nose prints are used to identify dogs in the same way finger... Read More

Choosing the Right Size for Your Dog

Dog fashions are all the rage and have become quite affordable for anyone and everyone to enjoy with their dog, but not everyone knows the best ways to find their dog's size or... Read More

6 Common Dog Emergencies

Sure, you may be a master of human First Aid. But do you know what to do in a dog health emergency?Approaching Dog Health Emergencies: Two StepsIn any dog health emergency, stay calm... Read More

The Top Five Reasons to Rescue a Boxer

What if you want a Boxer, but cannot stomach the thought of housebreaking, chewed up shoes and boundless puppy energy? Have you ever heard of Boxer rescue? These organizations provide loving care (and... Read More

Charming Trends in Dog Jewelry

The wearing of charms dates back to 400 or 500 BC, when they were believed to hold special powers -- particularly the power of protection. By the 1890's charms had evolved into a... Read More

Puppy Love - Wonderful Companions

Everybody loves puppies. Who can resist those cute little faces and wet noses? Puppies can be a lot of fun, but they also come with a lot of added responsibility.More than five million... Read More

Defend Your Dog and Stop that Hurting Paw!

Of course, we humans use shoes to protect our feet. We insist on it! But dogs usually don't have that luxury, and routinely walk over ice, rock, grass, cement and soil on their... Read More

How to Paint Your Cat

Why paint your cat? After all cats are beautiful creatures if you want to appreciate the appearance of a feline, you look at the cat not at a painting.Some of the reasons that... Read More

Scottie & Westie - This Mistake is Perfectly Understandable

Show an uninformed dog lover a photo of a Westie, and they'd identify a Westie as a white Scottie. This mistake is perfectly understandable, since they do have similar physical attributes and both... Read More

A Review of Cat Fancy Magazine

Occasionally, some of us get to do work that is totally fun and such is the case with my assignment to review Cat Fancy Magazine. My own two Bengal cats volunteered to assist... Read More

Does Your Dog Bite? How to Protect Your Dog and Yourself from Liability

MuttShack Foundation for Animal Foster and Rescue, claim that dogs bite more than 4.7 million people every year in the United States.The blame could be the dog's, the owner's, or the victim's. But... Read More

Do You Have a Dog Day Care Business Plan?

If you are considering opening a dog day care, then you need to make sure you have a dog day care business plan. A solid dog day care business plan will help you... Read More

What You Need To Know To Keep Your Dog Safe In Your Car

Man's Best Friend is a great companion around the home, but Rover will love joining you on road trips - short or long - as well. If you've tried taking your dog along... Read More

Pet Food Label Secrets Revealed! Know What You Are Feeding Your Dog And Cat

Reading a pet food label, how difficult can it be? You just pick up your regular brand and look at the variety on the front, right? Not so fast! Reading a pet food... Read More

Need a Low-Maintenance Pet? Try a Tarantula!

If you're like me, then you don't really have the luxury of keeping a high-maintenance pet such as a dog. Even a less demanding pet such as a cat might be beyond your... Read More