Successful Dog Training at Home – Having the Right Mindset

Deciding to own a dog comes with it many responsibilities. These include feeding, grooming, lots of love and playtime, and keeping up with required shots and vet visits. Dog training is another important responsibility that must not be overlooked. Proper dog behavior training will make life for the dog and its owner much more fun and enjoyable.

Dog training is the act of teaching your dog what is acceptable behavior in specific situations. It is effective communication between you and your dog. Dog training is about you telling your dog what you want, and your dog understanding and responding in a positive way.

Dogs can be trained at any age, but it is most beneficial to start as a puppy, the first day of arrival in your home. This will show your new puppy, from the start, what the boundaries are and can be the beginning of the road to successful dog training. A dog without set boundaries, rules or knowledge of what is expected will only continue to demonstrate unacceptable behaviors. It is your job, through dog training, to teach which behaviors are acceptable.

Some of the behaviors that often need to be corrected are potty training, unnecessary barking or whining, jumping up on your friends and family, chewing, biting on hands and clothing, digging, and aggressive behavior. The more common but also important obedience behaviors that you should teach your dog during dog training is to sit, stay, heel, lay down and walk on a leash properly.

When training your dog, it is important to understand why your dog does the things that he does. Some behaviors are breed dependant. Cocker spaniels tend to have weak bladders and will pee when they are excited. Growing up I had a Cocker Spaniel named Blondie that would pee at our feet every time we came home. We quickly learned to let her greet us outside so that she could get excited and do her business. When inside, she was paper trained and would always go in the same spot. Be sure you are fully informed of the behaviors that you may face with the breed of dog you choose.

A dog that digs usually does so out of boredom. It is important to find other activities for your dog to do. I have found that playing with him more, teaching him to fetch, taking him for walks in the park or even providing a place for him to dig will make him feel less cooped up in the yard and stop his digging caused by boredom.

Dog training takes patience and consistent reinforcement of the rules and commands. The best way to train your dog and to get results is through repetition, praise and positive reinforcement. It is important not to get angry or use force as negative punishment when your dog does not do exactly what you ask of it. Dog training does not involve hitting or yelling at your dog when it does something wrong.

B.F. Skinner, one of the most celebrated psychologists since Sigmund Freud, proved that behavior that is positively reinforced will reoccur. He also showed that the best training comes when information is presented in small amounts so that responses can be reinforced (also known as "shaping"). When your dog does something correctly, be sure to use words of praise in an excited voice, followed by petting and rewards with a favorite dog treat. Your dog will be able to feel the emotion and excitement in your voice and actions. This will be the encouragement needed to achieve the positive outcomes of dog training for a lifetime.

About the author:

Scott DeShais is an avid animal lover and has raised and trained dogs for more than 20 years. If you would like additional help and information about dog training, please visit http://dog-training-and-behavior-al.blogspot.com.

Dog Training

There are different meanings of the term "training." It is necessary to understand this fact before deciding what you need to do with your dog. Given below are some distinctions:

First of all, there is the "Behavior training - Dog behavior training involves teaching life skills, such as preventing aggression problems, and how to properly interact with others and the environment without undue stress.." This is a training in which a dog is taught to be a "good citizen." This includes house training, good behavior around people and other dogs, leash manners and other things that make your dog a much more pleasant companion to be with.

Next is "Obedience training - Obedience training is one of the best things you can do for your dog or puppy and yourself. Obedience training doesn't solve all behavior problems, but it is the foundation for solving just about any problem.," which is teaching your dog how to do be obedient. This can include traditional exercises such as heeling. The emphasis here is on prompt and accurate performance. While there can be many benefits to this training, this training is usually for the training's sake and not to improve the dog's behavior.

Finally, there is the "Activity training - People who play with their dog, stay with their dog." which refers to training for specific activities like Herding, Hunting, Search and Rescue, Lure Coursing and a number of activities designed to showcase your dog's abilities, particularly in activities for which the dog has been bred to do. These days, such activities also include "sports" such as Frisbee, Flyball, Agility and so on.

Of course there is a thin line between all of these distinctions. A certain amount of obedience training will help with behaviors. For example a dog that is heeling will not pull on the leash. Still you want to keep this in mind when selecting a training class so that it best matches your needs.

For many dog owners, the behavior-oriented classes are the best way to learn how to understand your dog. For those of you who want to enjoy a sport or compete in an activity with your dog will need to move along to more complex training.

You need to be aware of whether you need to correct your dog's behavior (where you will have to find out the underlying reason why your dog digs and not just put chicken wire over everything) or obedience training (to understand specific commands).

Certainly, the two may be related: a dog that digs because it is bored may become less bored with obedience training and stop digging. It is important, however, to understand that the dog stopped digging because it was no longer bored than because it now knows how to heel. You will need to modify your approach, or select a trainer to help you, with behavior vs. training in mind.

Another factor to consider is that there are many methods for teaching all of these! The different guides available on our website will help you in your endeavor to train your best friend into a Super Dog!

About the Author
Jai Nischal Verma is the owner of Dog Training Services. You can find more information at Dog-Training.in .

Reasons To Train Your Dog

So you have decided to get a dog. A canine can be a wonderful companion that will be with you for many years to come. But dogs are inherently wild and will require dog training to make them comfortable in an urban setting. Many people choose their pet based on the attributes that they like and the training will bring out those instinctive actions and mold them into acceptable behavior for an urban life. Individuals find that pet being properly trained is very important to the communication between pet and master.

Purpose Of Training

Even though your pet will need many dog supplies, there is nothing as important as a properly fitting collar and leash. Training your pet would be next to impossible without these items. These items are used to guide the dog during the training and should never be used for punishment. The purpose of training is not to make the dog submissive, it is to treat him which behaviors are acceptable and which ones are not. Trust is an integral part of training and if your pet does not trust you, he will not listen to you.

When To Train

The best time to train your dog is while he is a puppy. Lessons learned in this stage of development are retained throughout the life of the canine. In this stage, pets are eager to learn and eager to please so they can grasp new techniques pretty quickly. This is especially important when dealing with the larger breeds of dog, as they can quickly become too big to manage during training. When animals are young, they look up to the one that feeds them and gives them shelter. They try to learn everything that they can from their provider and trust that their provider will teach them about the world. This is why training a canine at a young age is so effective.

Training your dog is one of the best gifts that you could give your dog. Proper training will keep him out of trouble, keep him safe, and keep him healthy. If unsure how to proceed on your own, enlist the help of a professional trainer or enroll in some pet training classes. These classes are very popular and they help the dog learn commands at a faster pace because he can observe other animals doing the same task that you are requesting of him. With proper training, your pet will be happier because he will know exactly what you are expecting of him.

About the Author
Darnell Symington is an avid dog enthusiast and enjoys writing about her experiences with her favorite pets. She shares insights and experiences in a easy to understand way. You can find more of her writings at dog training made easy or http://all-about-dog-training.com

Training The Dog Owner Should Be The First Step

Caring for a dog is a great responsibility and one that should not be taken lightly. Taking care of a dog requires dedication and love in large quantities to provide your canine companion with a safe and secure home. Dogs are close relatives to wolves and are still instinctively wild, so they require dog training to make them suitable for domestic life. A well trained canine is a wonderful pet and a loving companion that will be with you for a very long time.

What Training Your Pet Accomplishes

Proper training will improve the relationship between you and your dog while setting clear boundaries for acceptable behavior. Communication between you and your animal friend will become clearer and the animal's respect for you will grow. Training your dog basic commands does not require many dog supplies, only a collar and leash. Many people choose to enlist the help of a professional trainer for the initial training of their animal, but once the animal and the owner have the basics of training perfected, any other training can occur alone.

When Should You Train Your Pet

Training your pet should occur while the dog is still a puppy. This is the period of greatest learning for the animal and the lessons that he learns now will stay with him for the rest of his life. A large dog must be trained as a puppy as he will quickly become too large to control. Early training is also important because it establishes you as the dominant pack animal in your relationship. Being dominant does not mean that the dog has to be submissive; it just means that he will look up to you as his provider and the person that keeps him safe. He will learn to trust you and will obey your commands without question because he trusts you to do what is right for him.

One of the best ways for a dog to learn a new lesson is to see other animals performing the same task. This is why animal training classes are so popular. In these classes, animals and their owners can learn proper training techniques and can observe the techniques used by other pet owners. It also provides a designated forum for the learning to occur. If deciding to train your pet at home, the training should occur in an area free of distractions. This way the animal's focus will be entirely on the training. By giving your dog the proper training, you will be helping him fit into the urban setting while keeping him safe from harm.

About the Author
Darnell Symington is an avid dog enthusiast and enjoys writing about her experiences with her favorite pets. She shares insights and experiences in a easy to understand way. You can find more of her writings at dog training made easy .