Top Five Dog Training Mistakes

While there are great self-help dog training guides out there and even better at home courses you can take to learn about dog training, be wary of any that include bullying or punishing your dog for not obeying you. These are common mistakes I see my clients make on a daily basis. Be sure to enroll in a solid online course or pet store class that avoids methods like these:

1. Training sessions that last longer than 20 minutes.

Most dogs attention spans are around 10 minutes of complete focus. It can be stretched to 20 minutes if you have an enticing reward like food or generous amounts of affection and petting. But after about 10 minutes, the dog will lose interest. Going past that amount of time can hurt training as the dog will try to avoid the situation. This leads to frustrated owners and if you are familiar with my writing, you know that dogs do not follow unstable or emotional (angry, frustrated, sad) leaders.

2. Punishing or scolding the dog after an accident or misbehavior.

If you come home to an accident in the house or your favorite pair of slippers chewed to oblivion you first reaction may be to punish the dog. You may actually justify this punishment by bringing the dog to the mess to show him why he is being scolded. The truth is the dog has no recollection of the moment. Even when you bring the dog to the slippers, he will not remember that he did it. So you are punishing the dog, in his mind, for no reason which leads to mistrust. How can you expect him to listen to your commands when hes been punished for not doing anything. I know what you are thinking (because I've worked with people and their dogs for many years), how then, does he remember to sit. Truth is, he doesn't. It's more muscle memory and instinct. The act of getting affection and treats subconsciously reminds the body how to act. That's why you see animals stalk prey the same way for centuries. It's simply instinct.

3. Hitting your dog.

Many years ago, it was common to roll up a newspaper and give your dog a smack on the rear end if she did something you did not agree with. Those times have changed. Studies show that any physical abuse will counteract years of love and praise. A dog is always in survival mode. So years spent in pleasure can be undone in a moment in a dogs world. Touching, however, is a very effective method. Touching is a firm touch with two fingers on the dog to snap him out of whatever he is doing. It doesn't hurt the dog, just gets his attention. At the touch, give a firm no and that will do the trick.

4. Letting the dog eat at the same time you do.

Letting the dog eat before you is worse. You need to establish that you are the pack leader in any human-dog relationship. In the dogs natural habitat, the pack leader eats first. It makes sense because the strongest have priority if the pack is to survive. Just like our president is the first evacuated out of an area if a problem arises. So if you feed the dog first or eat with the dog, the dog will determine that you two are on the same level and therefore, he does not have to obey your every command. After all, you two are equals!

5. Using a crate that is too big for the dog or puppy.

It is a common misconception that crates are like torture for a dog. The truth is dogs are den animals and feel safe in those types of areas, surrounded by walls or objects. It gives them protection from what they cannot see. When you see a dog whine while in a crate, it's because he or she simply wants to be with the pack leader. If you were in there with the dog, there would be no whining. So in order to compensate, owners buy crates that are way too big for their dog so the dog has room. However, the crate should only be big enough for the dog to stand up, turn around and lay back down. I usually tell my clients to choose a crate, then buy the next smallest one. That's probably the right size. If the crate is too big, a puppy will gladly eliminate in one corner and lay down in the other. So if your dog is going to the bathroom in the crate, the crate is too big.

Dog Training - Avoiding Common Training Mistakes

Dogs are man's best friends. When you ultimately made that big decision to own a dog, you expected it to provide you companionship, be a pleasure to show off to your friends and just plainly be a joy to own. So off you go to the pet shop, choose a dog that catches your attention and bring him (or her) home.

But then, the horror begins. The dog you brought home seems to be anything but the adorable creature you expected it to be. His (or her) behavior is terribly unpredictable and can even be downright embarrassing at times. The dog you brought home to provide you companionship just sits around at the corner of your home, seemingly bored at the things happening around him (or her).

So you read all the books and even went to a dog training class to teach your dog a thing or two about obedience, but you still get no good results. This may lead you to think there is something inherently wrong with your dog. Is he (or she) just plain lazy, hardheaded or a little bit slow in the head?

Have you considered its lineage? Some breeds of dogs are simply not born to be followers; making them naturally hard to train.

Have you taken an honest look at your self and your training style? Are you observing the proper dog training techniques? It would be a good idea to make sure that you do, to make both of your lives easier and to make your dog training sessions an enjoyable and fruitful experience for both of you. To help you make your training sessions easier, here is a list of the most commonly committed dog training mistakes. Please avoid them at all costs.

oNot giving enough rewards during the training - Providing treats is one indispensable part of dog training. It gives your dog enough motivation to continue following your commands satisfactorily. However, some dog owners shun this idea. They simply do not want to provide treats during their dog training sessions because they feel that they would not retain authority if ever they do so. They believe that it is the dog's role to follow their commands and giving them treats would be like bribing them.

oBeing too controlling - Some owners simply have a "control" problem and can be quite overbearing, nagging and perfectionist during their dog training sessions. If you happen to be one of these control freaks and you own a hard-to-train dog, you can expect to be in for a very hard time!

oBeing a training fanatic - Training your dogs too often, or repeating the same exercises over and over again, may bore him (or her). This is especially true when you own an independent dog, one that was simply not bred to obey his master's commands. Among these are dogs that belong to the non-sporting, terrier and hound breeds.

oNot giving attention to the dog's emotions - Some owners neglect to give enough attention to their dog's feelings during their training sessions. This can be a major problem indeed! Especially during training, it is important to consider how your dog is feeling to get the most out of your efforts. So whenever you observe his (or her) reluctance in doing the exercises, if you notice excessive yawning or that your dog simply refuses to look at you, it may be best to stop and let it loose for a while. Your dog might already be tired or bored from all that physical exertion!

Dog Kennel Training - The Easy Way to House Break and Potty Train

Dog Kennel Training, most often described as Crate Training, is the best way to get started with house breaking the new puppy you have just brought home. The 'Kennel' may be referred to as 'Crate' and 'Kennel Training' may be referred to as 'Crate Training' through out this article.

There are other benefits to a dog crate, other than just house training. When confined in a crate the puppy cannot be up to much mischief and get in any trouble, and remember, your costly shoes are safe from being chewed up. Crate training, if done the proper way, will also provide for a safe and secure 'den' where your pet will always be comfortable and safe.

To a dog out in the wild, it's den is the place it feels safe in, the place it seeks refuge in, the place it retreats to, to relax. The idea of dog kennel training is to make the crate you use, the den it would have sought out, had it been a dog in the wild.

To meet this end, the size of the crate, its structure, and the materials it is made from are very important along with the basic rule that the crate should not be used to punish the puppy in any form or manner what so ever. The puppy from day one should learn to trust the crate and not fear it.

The crate should be bought before you bring the puppy home for the first time. Chose a size that would be just correct for the puppy when it is a full grown dog. Imagine him or her being able to stand inside without it having to crouch but with only an inch or so away from the top of the dog's head to the ceiling of the crate.

The same theory should be applied to the length of the crate. When the dog is standing erect inside the crate there should be only an inch or so from the tip of the nose to the front side crate and a similar distance from its butt to the rear of the crate. A crate of such dimensions should allow a full grown dog to stand, turn around in a full circle and lie down comfortably without being cramped.

There should be no space inside the crate to allow the dog to 'ROAM' about or stand up on its hind legs. There are schools of thought that say the crate should fit as described above for all ages of the dog. This would mean buying a new crate every two months or so, till the dog is fully grown. It would be very advisable to buy a crate that would suit a full grown dog of its breed, but partition it to fit the puppy's present size, adjusting the partition as the puppy grows, till the partition is no longer needed.

It must be remembered that a dog will never soil its sleeping quarters, hence the size of the crate should permit for enough sleeping space only, if the crate is going to be used to house train and potty train the dog successfully.

When beginning the dog kennel training, it is of utmost importance that the puppy enters it of its own choice and not forced into it, or physically place into it. It must walk into it. Place a few choice treats inside the crate to lure him or her in for the first time. A comfortable puppy blanket and a few chew toys should make the crate a very attractive proposition, and a cool place to hang out in.

As always, rewards go a long way. Once the puppy has entered the crate for the first time make a show of adding another treat and add some verbal praise to make the puppy aware that you want it, and like it to be in there. Give the puppy the chance and freedom to exit the crate and re enter it at least a couple of times before you close it for the first time.

After closing it for the first time, reopen it after a few minutes. Repeat the act of closing and opening the crate door a couple of times, but lengthen the time it has been shut each time. Make sure that you are always within the puppy's sight. It should feel it is still a part of the happenings around it, even though it is locked in the crate.

It is natural that the puppy will start whining the first time you close the crate. DO NOT open the crate or talk to the puppy on account of the whining. Letting out the puppy for potty breaks have to be scheduled according to its age. The breaks would be more frequent in younger pups. An hour for a puppy that is just a few weeks old.

Use an hour for a month of age, so if the puppy is 3 months old, you can safely confine him for a period of 3 hours before his next potty break, but that is only a guide, you would have to monitor the disposition of the puppy when it is in the crate to make sure that it is not experiencing any discomfort on the account of a full bladder.

Dog kennel training is a must in the training regime of every puppy. It makes house training very easy and keeps your possessions safe from sharp little teeth enhancing your chances of having a pet that is welcome in your household.

Potty Training An Older Dog - 7 Practical Tips

While some people prefer getting cute, huggable, and adorable puppies, other people like getting a full grown dog instead. Older dogs tend to be more mature and perhaps better companions, the best friend that a human would need.

However, some people have qualms about getting an older dog because of the common notion that people cannot teach old dogs new tricks, especially potty training. But this is not actually the case, older dogs can still be potty trained with some important things in mind.

Here are some tips for potty training an older dog:

1. When potty training an older dog, your focus should be teaching the dog to eliminate outside, instead of teaching it not to eliminate inside. It is easier to teach an older dog to DO something instead of NOT DOING something.

If the dog already has an old habit of doing it inside, it would be hard to focus too much on eliminating that habit. It is rather easier to help it learn a better alternative to an old bad behavior.

2. Select a spot where you want the dog to do its business, such as a small corner in the lawn. It would be easier to potty train an older dog, if you are consistent about where you want it to poop. Going to the same place, over and over again, would help the dog learn the right place faster. It also helps if you do not clean the spot much until your dog learns to go there when it needs to go potty.

3. Use the same words in referring to potty. An older dog might get confused if you use different phrases to mean the same thing. When you want it to go potty, use the exact same phrase so that it would somehow become like a command to do the behavior you want it to do.

4. Remove every trace of potty accident inside the house. Dogs' sense of smell are very keen and the smell of urine or excrement in your house might make it think that it is the place to go potty. Use a deodorizing cleaning solution to eliminate odors that might stick to your floors and carpets.

5. Keep your dog's sleeping area as tight as comfortably possible. Dogs do not want potty in their sleeping quarters and by keeping the area just enough for it to sleep and, maybe, turn around, there would be no space for it to go potty. Ever morning, when the dog wakes up, take it to its regular potty place so that it would do its business there.

6. Lessen your dog's food and water intake before it sleeps. This prevents accidents from happening because when your dog is full of water or food while sleeping, it might not have the capacity to control the call of nature.

7. Make it easy for your dog to go outside through a doggie door or leaving the back door open. If this is impractical in your area, leave a bell for your dog to reach. Take the dog out each time it rings the bell so that it would know that ringing is a signal for going out.

Whoever says you cannot teach your older dog new tricks might just be too lazy. Potty training an older dog is indeed possible if you know these tips and if you just have the right amount of patience.

Security Dog Training

Security dog training is widely done by dog owners and trainers who want their dogs to guard their home. Dogs are great for defending your home. A dog's instincts against bad people are remarkable. A dog's suspicious attitude towards strangers is undoubtedly the best.

They can protect you and your home from burglars. Usually they alarm you by barking furiously when they sense something shady. They could also go after the crooks and bite them real hard or scare them away.

Having a home security dog is worth it. They are intimidating and brave. They serve as the best alarm for thieves and bad people.

Security dog training is also used by the police and the military. In this area of protection, they are trained to sniff drugs and bombs. They are also used for investigations and criminal hunts.

You might have noticed at the airport or outside 5 star hotels there are always security dogs to sniff out any suspicious characters.

These purposes have made them very useful. Protecting human well being and saving lives are just some of what they can do for people.

They are also used to aid and guide blind people. They serve as their eyes when walking.

Dogs are loyal and protective. They are smart, quick, and strong. This is why they are considered to be one of the best home security there is.

Security dog training isn't just about teaching your dog how to protect you. Dogs also have needs. They need love and comfort from their owners, too. Dogs shouldn't be treated as items for protection. They should be treated as family members as well. Dogs are a man's best friends. An owner should always secure their safety and protect them from harm as well. If these are done, you would have the best home security alarm and a best friend.

JR tricks

This is my Shih Tzu to do some of the tricks he knows. He is not the smartest dog more, but he knows a lot and is a quick learner!

Obedience is the key to the adoption of a dog acceptable calm

www.quickdogtrainingtips.com pastor ilove Maltese, Pomeranian, German, beagle, Siamese, Bengal diberman, Jack Russell, bulldog, terrier, poodle, Chihuahua Pomeranian, dachshund, Yorkshire, Yorkshire, German shepherd, gold retriever, black lab , brown Labrador, pug, mut, cocker spaniel, Bichon Frise, Boston Terrier, Shi Tzu, and rescue dogs and puppies shitzhund. My dog and dog are so cute together. I learned to train my dog, as in no time. I'm really good at because it is so Traingeasy! Lives of classes that can do alone. Dogs are the best pet ever! and are always super awesome and cool and fun to play. they receive, and jump and turn, and doors open!