Having a little puppy in the house can be a joy. It can also be quite a mess! There is nothing more disgusting than slipping in a little piddle in the middle of the night and having to clean the little accident and yourself up. Therefore, house training your puppy should be one of the first things you do for him and you. Just don’t expect miracles overnight. Depending on the puppy, it could take several weeks before he starts to get the hang of it.

To quickly get your puppy house trained, you would have to be vigilant and on twenty-four duty every day. Since that is not likely to happen, expect that your puppy may not be fully house trained until about five to seven months of age, depending on when you started. Be advised that puppies eat and drink a lot. After all, they are growing so quickly! Therefore, be prepared for lots of “bathroom breaks.” Puppies burn off a lot of calories and they also have not developed much control on their bodily functions. It will seem for a while that all your puppy does is pee, poop and eat!

There are a few things to know when house training. First of all, do you know what you should do when you are not at home? You should close your puppy in to a single room that has been dog-proofed and the floor lined in plenty of newspaper to capture the accidents. Make sure that his special toys, bed, food and water are there for him. Initially, your puppy will have no system or care in the world as to where he poops and pees. He will probably play in the newspapers, chew them up and even scatter them all over his room. It is important to change the newspapers every day to ensure that your puppy and the room stay clean.

When you puppy is in his room lined with newspapers, he is starting to realize that he can only perform his bodily functions on the paper. And as he gets older and accustomed to his paper-lined room, he will start preferring one area of the papered room over another. Once he develops a routine and the same one area becomes his “permanent” elimination spot, start taking away some of the newspaper in the room, typically some of the papers in the outside perimeter. As time goes on, slowly take away more newspaper until all you are left with is his favorite elimination spot.

The point to house training using the newspapers is that once your puppy understands to only go on the newspaper, you can eventually move his elimination spot from the puppy-proofed room to a location of your choice. Remember though that small steps are necessary so you don’t run into the “one step forward and two steps back” problem. And if he misses the newspaper after you move it a little one day, move it back for a few days. In time, you will have moved the papered elimination location to your desired spot and the puppy along with it.

When you are home, continue the house training routine as mentioned above. However, you can take a more active part in his house training by physically taking him to his elimination spot every forty-five minutes to an hour. There are some specific times when you should do this too: immediately after eating and drinking; right after play time with you; and also right after waking from a nap or sleep.

Be sure to heap the praise and love on him when he eliminates in the appropriate spot. However, do not get upset and raise your voice when he has an accident. After all, he is essentially a “child” and is still learning. Don’t become overconfident as he house trains. You need to slowly introduce other parts of the home to him. And when you cannot actively take him to his potty spot or watch him, be sure to place him back in his newspaper lined puppy room.

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A number of reasons exist in regards to why dogs bark. Your dog barking can warn you if a stranger approaches or there is an intruder trying to break into your home. He may also bark if he is scared of something or in pain. Some of the bad reasons (at least as far as you are probably concerned) include a means to appear intimidating to you or others and sometimes it is a simple matter of garnering attention from you. Whatever your dog’s motives are, barking can be a real pain in the rear. In fact, some owners are reported to the police for disturbing the peace because their dogs are incessant barkers. Luckily for you, there are a few things you can try to train them not to do this unless there is just cause.

The primo way to control all that barking is to teach your dog when to recognize the appropriate times to bark. You have a few options regarding this; however, the tried and true reward/reprimand method works best because it is effective and humane. Some people try and circumvent the training option all together with an electronic collar, known as a bark collar. This collar is worn by your dog and is activated whenever your dog starts to bark. It emits a small electrical shock which startles your dog. Eventually, your dog links his barking with pain and the barking halts.

The electronic collar has a few drawbacks though. Some dogs simply don’t link the pain caused from the electrical shock with the barking so they continue to do it and just build a tolerance to the shocks he receives from the collar. And dogs with a thick coat may not even feel the shock! There are metal prongs on the back of the collar which must be in contact with the skin in order for the shock to be felt. Furry dogs can’t feel them if the prongs cannot reach their skin. Besides, there have been few cases where the electronic collar alone cures the barking problem. It has always been reinforced with some obedience training for optimal results.

The personal opinion of some owners is that the electronic dog collar to control barking is mean and cruel. While it does not really hurt the dog, some feel that the collar could be demoralizing to them. Therefore, some of them resort to another type of collar which works on the same theory as the electronic version. The citronella collar emits a mist whenever your dog barks. Dogs hate this smell (at least most of them do). Whenever they bark, they will smell this citronella scent. Eventually, they will link the two together and therefore will try and avoid having to smell that odor by not barking. The rate of success is about the same as the electronic collars.

Most vets and dog trainers feel that while these collars are great tools, they are no substitute for a good solid foundation in obedience training. Besides, the training will do more than curb the barking problem, it will also carry over into other aspects of life as well.

The most drastic option to curtail the barking is surgery. Animal surgeons remove a small piece of tissue from the dog’s larynx. This method essentially takes away the dog’s ability to bark. However, for some dogs, their barking ability does return anyway, rendering the surgery a waste of time and money. Besides, many vets are opposed to this method and many consider it a cruel act.

The bottom line is that obedience training will provide you with the necessary tools you need to curb your dog’s barking. With the collars, if your dog learns not to bark, what happens in those situations when it is actually warranted like an intruder coming to your home? You will get no warning. Obedience training will help your pooch protect his family while curbing that barking.

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Millions of people every year are bitten by dogs. Some are reported and others are not. With proper training, many dogs can learn to curb that temptation to exercise their choppers. And while some bites are not done in a malicious manner, they can still be hurtful and cause damage. Therefore, instead of focusing on what you can do with your dog to keep him from biting, this article will instead focus on things you and your family can do to remove that temptation from your dog. Through training and some dog bite avoidance tips, you should hopefully avoid becoming a dog bite statistic.

Reasons why your dog may bite

* Some dogs express themselves through biting if they are feeling threatened, scared or mad. Avoid situations like these with your dog.
* If your dog feels trapped, biting may occur. Give your dog some personal space and avoid public crowds until he is properly trained for that.
* Dogs are protective of their things whether it is food, toys, their home and even you. Don’t try and take their things away, especially if they are in the midst of using them or eating.
* A stressed or surprised dog may bite too. Therefore, do not sneak up on him. Make some noise so he knows you are there.
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Dog Bite Prevention

* Children are most vulnerable to dig bite attacks. Teach your kids to be careful around pets, even your own. Follow the dog’s lead and don’t allow your kids to touch or approach a dog unless you say it is ok.
* Children love playing with puppies and that is great. However, puppies teethe a lot so they tend to nip when they play. These typically don’t hurt, but discourage your children from allowing these bites to take place. A puppy who bites now and is not stopped will continue to do it.
* Never approach a strange or stray dog. You do not know their history or health status.
* Both you and your children need to remember to give your dog some space. Do not stick your face in his. Depending on the dog’s mood, he may interpret it in different ways and you might find yourself with a bloody nose.
* Chasing is a favorite pastime of dogs. However, in your training, use commands that will discourage this action. Instinct may take over and the dog could tackle and bite you, even in play.
* Never bother a dog who is eating, nursing or sleeping. You will startle them and the fist reflex is usually the baring of teeth.
* Waving arms or dangling fingers could be an invitation for a dog to play and sometimes, that play involves biting. You don’t want to lose a digit or two.
* Always ask permission from the owner of another dog if it is ok to pet him.

Basically, just practice some common sense when it comes to avoiding that dreaded dog bite. Be sure and pass along the dog bite advice to your kids and other children and adults too. Who knows? You may prevent a potential dog bite problem.

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Training your dog is important for a peaceful co-existence between you and your in your daily family life. Obedience training should be a requisite no matter what kind of dog you have - whether it is a mutt or AKC registered or laid back or stubborn. If you do not train your dog, he will be more apt to be depressed as well as exhibit increasingly bad behaviors. This makes matters worse around your household.

There is one ordinary blunder that many people make when trying to train their dog. They do not direct their dogs; rather they just try to teach them. You must show your dog the appropriate behavior and reinforce it. One of the first commands you want to teach your dog is the “sit” command. Before you start, make sure that you remove any distractions. Take the dog a walk so that he can eliminate first. Having to go potty can make your dog antsy. Also, do not start a training session right after eating a meal. Just like with humans, dogs can become sleepy and want to be lazy.

Engage in some play time before beginning your training session. By doing this, your dog is not only burning off a little excess energy, but he will also be more receptive and engaging in your training lesson. Make sure that you have some treats ready for reward time. Part of what makes dog training so successful is consistency. No matter what happens, make sure that you act in the same manner each time. For instance, don’t reward him one time for behavior then not another. This will only confuse him.

So what do you do when your dog becomes distracted and tries to wander off? You withhold the treat and lead your dog back into the original position from which he started. Repeat the command and wait to see if he performs it. If he does not perform the specific behavior, then perhaps a break time is in order.

If, during the course of your training session, your dog runs off, do not chase it. With an authoritative voice and calm demeanor, reissue the command. If your dog does not follow it, firmly lead him back and reward him. Eventually, if you keep repeating the process, your dog will associate positive reinforcement with the desired behavior.

Do not assume that just because your dog has mastered the basic commands that he is ready to be sans leash. You must practice the commands, both with the leash and without. Then take him to a park where there are other people to form distractions. Go through the command process around all the excess stimuli. When your dog performs appropriately, give him a treat. When he does not, show him the correct way and try again.

If your dog appears clueless about what you want from him and does not appear to be distracted from outside forces, do not become upset with him. Become a better communicator. Help him with the command and physically show him if necessary. However, if distractions are causing delays in his training, then it would be appropriate to correct him.

Dog training is important. It should be a requirement for each dog adoption from a shelter or to obtain a dog license through your city. Of course, the main reason why dog training is a must is to maintain the family unit and enrich it with the presence of your four-footed family friend.

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You are to be commended for deciding to train your dog in some basic commands. Not only will your bond be stronger but your dog will also trust and respect you in the owner-dog relationship. The problem with dog training is that most people either do not do enough research into some fundamentals which would help them. In addition, some people pardon the pun; bite off a little more than they can chew. In other words, they take for granted that the “dog training thing” will be a breeze. All it takes is a few treats in their pocket and they are all set right? Wrong!

There are at least five mistakes that most dog owners commit before breaking down for professional advice or at least do more thorough research. If you are planning to train your dog, try and do it right the first time. Read and learn from the five mistakes below:

1. Not being committed to the training. No, this does not have anything to do with an insane asylum. Although, if you don’t learn from the mistakes listed here, you might want to be committed! No, being committed means not giving up. Too often owners get disgusted that progress is not made quickly enough and they quit. If you find that adequate progress is not being made, then it is time to research your dog breed. Perhaps the breed of your dog is known for being hyper or has a herding or rescue instinct. Try and find those traits and make them work for you rather than against you.

2. Not keeping a regular routine. You must follow the same procedures over and over in order for your dog to pick up the training. Don’t start with anything elaborate. Keep things simple and only teach one command at a time. Once they master that command, build on it and add another. Part of the failure problem is that many people try and do too much at one time. By being consistent with your dog during training, they will grasp the commands more quickly. In addition, be sure to implement several short training sessions a day rather than one or two lengthy ones. After a while, your dog may tend to get tired or bored.

3. Not partnering with your dog. What this means is that do not use negative reinforcement to get your dog to do what you want it to. No spanking, kicking or yelling is allowed. By taking a proactive approach through the use of rewards when your dog masters a command, you are building a positive relationship with your dog. In turn, your dog will soon want to please you more and more, thus making the training process a lot easier for the both of you.

4. Being close-minded. Don’t get stuck in a rut or believe that any one particular method is appropriate for your dog’s training. Just like each human is different, each dog is different. They have different temperaments. You have to tailor your dog’s training regiment to their specific behavior. Most of the books that you might read or the videos you watch should be used as guidelines. You know your dog better than a book or video does. Just be sure that any ideas you incorporate be used consistently.

5. Being dull and boring. Spice things up a bit. Training your dog should be fun. While being consistent is important, you can at least change the venue a bit. If you always train in the back yard in the afternoon, try going to a neighborhood park in the morning. Once you are done with your dog training session, you and your pooch can go play. If you are teaching your dog to go fetch, start changing the items being fetched around. One day it could be a newspaper and the next day it could be a Frisbee.

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Perhaps one of the things that dog owners dread most is locking their dog up or kenneling them because they are afraid that they will leave the yard and get lost. Luckily, there is a solution that will not only keep your dog safe but also keep them from having to be locked up. That solution is called an invisible fence. These fences are deemed invisible because they are below ground where no one can see them.

These invisible fences designed for dogs teach them about the boundaries of your yard. You should not depend solely on these fences to keep your pooch in; rather, use them as a tool and incorporate them into your dog behavior training. The invisible fence is made up of a wire which runs underground around the border of the yard where you want your dog to stay. Your dog wears an electronic collar which is in tune with the underground wire. It senses how close your dog is to the invisible fence. The electronic dog collar relays a small electronic zap when your dog advances to the outer perimeter of the area. If you cannot spare the expense of putting up a traditional fence, these invisible dog fences are the perfect solution.

A lot of dogs do not like being cooped up, especially in a kennel for any length of time. By the same token, you cannot let them roam free while you are away from home. They could get hurt or someone could even call animal control saying there is a stray dog on the loose! An invisible fence provides the freedom your dog needs to wander around your yard at will, but limits them to within the boundaries of where the invisible fence is installed. No more kennels or chains which is great because they are not good options in which to contain your dog for any long length of time.

Let’s think about regular fences for a second. First of all, they can get expensive depending on the style you get. Secondly, dogs love to dig and will dig their way around those traditional fences and escape. Finally, regular fences take up part of your yard, which means less room for your dog. An invisible fence cannot be seen and therefore is not an eyesore or blight on your landscaping. Plus, they are affordable!

Many of the invisible fences have variable warning intensities, overall though, when your dog gets near the area of the invisible fence, he’ll receive a caution tone. If he doesn’t move back from the fence within a few seconds, the tone is accompanied by a slight electronic zap, conveyed through his electronic collar. The zap does not hurt your dog in the least; it just grabs his attention. If he disregards the first zap, the electronic collar adjusts itself to a higher setting to prevent the dog from crossing the invisible fence perimeter.

You may feel sorry for your dog at first; just remember though that the electrical zap is not detrimental. Besides, your dog will soon associate the sound of the tone with retreating and thus will avoid future zaps after a little time has passed.

Check with internet pet supply stores or talk with your veterinarian about your options for invisible dog fences. Your vet will likely have a few ideas that might help. And don’t forget your local pet shops! They will have some invisible fence options too.

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Some dogs take to car and truck rides like a duck to water. With others, they may exhibit signs of fear and anxiety and even may become nauseous and vomit. You may never know exactly why your dog sees the car as his enemy. Perhaps, he remembers that a car ride equates to a trip to the vet’s office for shots. Or maybe, if your dog was a stray, someone took him on a car ride to dump him off. Whatever the reason, you need to take steps to desensitize him so that eventually he will associate a car ride with positive things, like a trip to the park.

The first thing you need to do is have plenty of treats on hand. Then, go open your car doors before leashing your dog. Walk him around your car several times, allowing him to peer in or sniff if he so desires. If he does, give him a doggie treat and lots of love and praise. If he shows anxiety, continue to walk around your car slowly around the open doors until he calms down. When you notice that he relaxes noticeably, praise him and give him treats.

Next, after a few days of traversing the route around the car, you should notice that your dog no longer becomes agitated being in the vicinity of the car. Your next move is arming yourself with treats then leading your dog back to the car with its open doors. Coax your dog inside the car. Do not start the engine! Be advised that your dog may balk at entering your car, even with the engine off. You should not try to form him inside. Rather, offer him a bribe. Use a trail of treats to get him in your car. Play fetch and throw a toy inside in the hopes she will retrieve it. While your dog is on the leash, get in the vehicle yourself. Call your dog to you and present a treat to him.

Once you get your dog inside your car, praise him and show him lots of love. You want to make sure that you keep the doors open at all times so he can leave if the pressure becomes too much for him. Allow him to sniff around and inspect your car if he shows an inclination. Whatever you do, do not acknowledge his anxiety!

The next phase to getting your dog to ride is to close the doors with your dog inside. Make sure the windows are down for good air flow and again, do not start the car. Pet your dog and reassure him through the window. Again, if your dog shows signs of nervousness, ignore it as it will only reinforce that behavior. If your dog sits easily, give him a treat and praise him. Keep this first enclosed exposure to a few brief minutes and then get inside with her.

Once your dog is comfortable enough in the car, start the engine. Don’t go anywhere. Just let the engine idle with both you and the dog inside. If your dog seems amendable, go for a quick drive around the block. Reward your dog for good behavior while in the car. If he shows signs of fear, ignore it and return home. This phase may take a few days until your dog is relaxed enough with a trip around the block.

After you dog is fully acclimated to the car and doesn’t freak at the short car ride, take him someplace fun like the park or a nature trail where he can sniff and explore to his heart’s content. By this time, your dog should start to associate, the car with pleasant feelings. And one day, your dog will be excited when you grab your car keys because he wants to go for a ride!

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Dog training could go smoothly for a while and then you just have “one of those days.” Your dog is not paying attention to you and you feel frustrated. Yelling, jumping and just plain throwing temper tantrums is not the way to garner your dog’s attention, especially since you were probably not using a calm voice. Your dog will just close himself off. When these things happen, there are a few things you should always remember about your dog. They may seem simple and elementary, but in the heat of the moment, they are things you should well remember.

1. Your dog is not a mind reader.

Just like you cannot figure out what your dog is thinking, he cannot understand what you are thinking, much less what you want from him. Usually, the downfall of most owners is that they try to attribute human-like qualities onto their pooch and that is simply not going to work. First of all, your dog is all canine. They have certain responses and behaviors that are genetically ingrained into them because they are dogs. Your pet cannot change that. You have to be the one to adapt to him.

2. Your dog only knows the tone of your voice.

Talking to your dog is great. However, you know what you are saying but your dog does not. He just responds by the tone of your voice. If it is soft and loving, it soothes them. If it is upbeat and happy, then they are playful. If your tone of voice is harsh and mean, they get scared or sad or both. So those times when your dog does something wrong and you ask it “What were you thinking? No! No! No!” Your dog was not thinking … at least not in human terms. It was probably just doing something that dogs do that you didn’t approve of, like sniffing and strewing garbage all over the place. Your dog is not going to understand the word no. He will only understand that your voice was mean and scary.

3. Speak your dog’s language.

Don’t take your dog’s growling or other vocalizations personally. They have to communicate somehow. So the next time your dog barks at you, bark right back, especially if that bark was for something he should not be doing. See what he does. Growling works with the same principle. Sometimes, the barking and growling is your dog’s way of trying to take over the “alpha” position in the relationship. By barking or growling right back, you are re-asserting your dominance as leader.

4. Follow your dog’s lead.

Dogs have certain instincts ingrained in them. It’s a part of Mother Nature. What this means is that if you have an Australian Shepherd that has strong herding tendencies, don’t try to break him of it. Try and channel it into useful ways. You will certainly fail if you are fighting against your dog’s genetic history. The same principle applies to other breeds. If you have a dog breed that is known for its hunting skills, you should know by now that it likely will not like being cooped up in one area. Train it to be sociable and adept in public places. Train him to play fetch and other games that would utilize its hunting instincts.

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A dog obedience school is just a phone call or click of the mouse away. Being a responsible dog owner means obedience training. While some people can conduct the training all on their own, an expert can do so much more.

You have probably observed other dog owners with disorderly dogs, or maybe even have reconciled yourself in thinking that your own dog will never obey your commands. Perhaps newspaper and shoe chewing has become such a habit that you come to expect it from your dog. Or maybe you’ve given up walking your dog because you cannot control him or want to be embarrassed by his behaviors while on the street in public.

Don’t give up on your dog. You owe it to yourself and your dog to do everything you can to get him trained. Trouble and a number of crises can be avoided when you have a well-trained and obedient dog. An untrained dog could bite someone, risking a lawsuit. Or your barking dog could result in someone calling the police to report a disturbing of peace. A dog that will not respond to you or come to you when called is not only a potential hazard to the public, it is also a nuisance to you and is just courting a potential injury if left unattended.

With the guidance of an obedience school instructor, you will learn how to effectively communicate with your pooch so that he will listen. Your dog will learn the basic commands such as sit, stay, down and heel. He will also learn how to integrate into a social setting and figure out how to behave with other dogs and animals around. And guess what? Your dog will love obedience training because he gets one-on-one time with you, his master!

You would approach choosing a dog obedience school as if you were choosing the right college to go to. You want to be meticulous and select the right option. Plus, this obedience training is not just for the family pooch, it is also for you too. After all, you will be there leading your dog and listening to the obedience dog trainer’s suggestions. You should be able to get along with the instructor. Do a little research into the obedience schools in your area and “interview” the instructor before making a decision.

One idea to finding the right obedience school is asking your veterinarian. Either with his own dogs or testimonials from other clients, the vet may know of some reputable dog obedience training schools. Ask your network of friends and family. Who has a dog that went through training? Where did they go?

You also want to prepare a list of questions to ask. If you have to select a school from the phone book rather than a recommendation, you want to ask those prepared questions. Talk with your local Better Business Bureau and make sure there are no complaints against any potential dog trainers you narrow down to. Ask the school for references and actually follow up with them. You want to talk with other people who have had success with their own dogs.

Finally, find out about the philosophy of the trainer. Make sure that their views about dogs and training resemble your own. You want to feel comfortable about the situation. And don’t forget to tour the facilities before you start a training program. By dropping in unannounced and observing training sessions, you will be able to get a feel of the school. You owe it to your dog to find him the right obedience school. With a well-behaved dog, you will enjoy him that much more.

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Congratulations on the new member of your family! It doesn’t matter if that new member is a canine, is furry and has four feet. He (or she) is a part of the family unit in your household. And if you want to co-exist peacefully with your new pooch, there are probably a few ground rules you want to instill to ensure long-term harmony. There is just one little problem … dogs obviously will not know the ground rules. Therefore, it is up to you as a responsible dog owner to teach him those ground rules in the form of obedience dog training.

If you are like most people these days, you probably hop on your computer to research for particular bits of information. Hopefully, you did a little research into the dog that is now a part of your family. While all breeds are different and have a number of quirks, there are a few things that seemingly stay the same - the basic commands that are taught during training and the need for a reward and reprimanding system to reinforce that training.

You probably know the basic commands you want to teach your dog already. These could include come, sit, and stay, heel, off and down. But when it comes to rewarding your dog and scolding him during the training, there are probably some conflicting arguments, depending on your sources of information. It is important to know the “right” and “wrong” way of rewarding your dog for good behavior as well as the reprimanding portion of the training when your dog is not doing something correctly.

Rewarding Your Dog during Obedience Training

The only way to get your dog to do what you want him to do in obedience training is through a reward system. Whenever, your dog does something right, he should get a treat immediately. Rewarding on a consistent basis will teach him that the positive behavior he is engaging in is the appropriate one. One of the things you should do is ensure that you create scenarios where your dog can obtain enough practice in the correct doggie behavior. Also important is the fact that you should always reward your dog for positive behaviors, even if you are past the obedience training-treat giving stage. Lots of belly rubs and play time is heaven for your pooch.

What you do not want to do is take their positive behaviors for granted. By encouraging him daily for his obedience, you are not setting him up for failure when he does misbehave. Because everyone knows that misbehavior garners attention more often than not.

Reprimanding Your Dog during Obedience Training

The key to reprimanding your dog is to not use negative words constantly. Because after a while, the dogs will tend to ignore it! How many times have you yelled at your dog “No?” How about stop, naughty boy or get off? By using the reward system for every positive behavior during obedience training, your dog will tend to take more notice for those times when reprimanding is necessary.

The key to reprimanding a dog is to straight away demonstrate to your dog the appropriate behavior and then reward him when he does it correctly. Part of the training process is catching your dog in the act of an inappropriate behavior whether it is chewing your shoes or jumping on furniture. This is when you use an authoritative voice and reprimand him with a “down” or “stop.” What you do NOT want to do is become physical with your dog. No kicking or hitting your dog. Patience is important. Eventually, your patience will be rewarded with a lovable obedient dog who integrates well with your family.

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