DogTrainster.Com

Article Source: examiner.com
By Jeff Millman

There are five ways of using positive reinforcement to train a dog to do behaviors.

1.    Reward Acceptable Behavior
Dogs do what works to benefit them. We can use this to our advantage by paying attention to what they are doing and give them what they want BEFORE they make a mistake.  A good example is if you are working on teaching your dog not to jump, make sure you talk to her and let her know “Good girl!” and give her a reward when you walk into a room and she does not jump on you.

2.    Ignore Inappropriate Behavior
An example of this is begging at the table. If a dog gets rewarded for begging, she will do it again and again. If you stop rewarding this behavior, she will try something else. The first time she tries something appropriate such as lying down, give her a treat. Hopefully she will think, “How did I get that treat? Maybe it was that lying down thing. I will try that again!” Then, you make sure to catch her doing it right the next time and reward her again. Eventually, she should come over to the table and lie down because that is what has worked for her in the past.

3.    No Reward Mark
This is a signal to your dog that she is doing something wrong. Dogs do not come from the litter with an understanding of our language. We have to teach them through the consistent use of associations and consequences. (Eh! Eh!) or another No Reward Mark (NRM) should be used to tell your dog “wrong answer!.” You can then wait for the appropriate response and reward that to clearly communicate which behavior results in a reward and which behavior gets nothing.

4.    Timeouts
This is probably the most powerful positive reinforcement teaching method for most dogs. You give a dog three chances to get it right and then you remove her from the action for a short amount of time. An example of this is jumping on people. The first time she jumps you take the attention away from her because that is what she wants and we don’t want her to be rewarded for inappropriate behavior. You do this by turning your back and saying (Eh! Eh!) Then, when she is on the ground, you say “Good girl!” and pet her. If she sits, that is even better and you give her a treat. The second time she jumps on you do the same thing. The third time, say “Timeout” without anger or yelling and take her to a different area of the house or a crate.

Put her in there for 10 seconds up to a minute at the most and leave the area so she can’t see you. Then, come back and say, “Ok, let’s try again.” She comes out of the area and as she is doing anything that is appropriate praise her “Thanks for not jumping, it is such a good decision to stay on the ground!” If she jumps, however, she does not get three chances, she immediately gets another timeout.

What you are doing is communicating to her using timing and consistency is that her behavior has consequences. She can be with you if she does not jump, but jumping is not appropriate. Incidentally, if she is timed out for jumping and comes out of the cage and nips, barks or other inappropriate behavior that you are currently working on, you can instantly time out again.

Another method of timing out is by looping a 6-foot leash over a doorknob and attaching her collar to the leash and waking away. For jumping, you might walk a few feet away and then turn around “Good! You are not jumping!” If you walk closer and she jumps again, you would say “Eh! Eh!” and walk away again. The message is very clear. She jumps on you and it ends all her chances for interactions. She stays on the ground and she has a chance for rewards, pets and fun.

5.    Withold or Remove Reward
You can practice this strategy during mealtimes. Have your dog sit and put the food bowl down slowly in front of her. Talk to her the whole time: “Good girl!” as soon as she stands up and breaks the sit, you say (Eh! Eh!) and remove the food bowl. You are teaching her that her behavior has consequences. Then put the food bowl down again. If she isn’t able to hold her sit or makes a mistake 3 times in a row for any behavior, we need to make it easier. In this case, put the food bowl down faster when she is sitting and then say “OK” which means she can eat. Make it harder each day by putting it down slower and having her wait longer and longer before she can eat.

All of these strategies can be used together. For instance, to teach a dog not to jump on guests, you can ignore jumping and reward anything but jumping. But, you can also time a dog out for jumping if ignoring the bad behavior did not work. Sometimes it takes different strategies to get the point across clearly to a dog what behaviors work and what behaviors do not.

Article Source: just4thedogtraining.com

If you are like most dog owners, you spend considerable time training your dog and you could use a few quick and simple dog training tips. Dogs don’t normally misbehave without having a good reason. After all, they are incredibly smart and they don’t understand English so they can’t explain it to you. Here are three easy tips about dog training basics that can be useful for new dog owners as well as experienced owners.

Tip #1 – Imagine that you’re a dog and think like one.
Get in the mood and think like your dog. Easy? Well, now you know what it’s like to expect your dog to think like he’s human. If you forget all other tips but remember this one, you may do well with your dog training. In order to address misbehavior, you must understand the reason behind it. The next time you hear your dog bark a little too much, keep in mind that it’s in his primitive nature to bark when he perceives a threat or danger. You could have the best muzzle in the world or be the best communicator but nothing beats addressing the cause of the barking. You can also try to place your dog in more social situations so that it becomes less skittish around strangers. You can also give him more room to run in the backyard so your dog doesn’t feel threatened.

Tip #2 - Reward your dog’s good behavior.
If you want to be a successful dog trainer, don’t emphasize punishments but rather give your dog the positive attention they crave from their owners. Positive reinforcement always provides better results in the long run. Keep in mind that dogs can’t reason the way humans do. For example, if you punish your dog for chewing on your shoes while you’re home, he may stop for now but what will happen when you leave? The dog will get bored again and start chewing on your shoes again. If you were to toss them a toy instead or punishing them, he gets attention from you and gets to play with his toy, both of which are seen as rewards for the dog. When you’re away and your dog gets bored, he may just reach for that toy instead of your shoes. Always try to reward good behavior instead of punishing bad behavior.

Tip #3 - Remember their very short attention span.
You may not be aware of it, but dogs have no attention span. Ignore the dog training tips that tell you how to address a mistake your dog made a little while back. Going back to the shoe example, waiving the chewed up shoes in their face will not mean a thing to your dog, even if they did it less than 5 minutes ago. You must catch your dog in the act in order to give a meaningful punishment and get your point across.

Keep these three easy dog training tips in mind and you’ll be successful.

Article Source: americanchronicle.com

By Kenneth Elliott

The variety of dog species is so great that sometimes it´s better not to think of them all as part of the same species at all. Biologists do because they can interbreed. Dog owners have different purposes, so it can be better to emphasize the differences over the similarities.

A Jack Russell terrier looks, thinks and behaves much differently from a Great Dane. The latter are generally very calm. A Golden Retriever is a very different animal than a Collie. Golden Retrievers are fun loving, but excitable. A German Shepherd and a Chihuahua have little more in common than the name ´dog´.

As a result of these differences, training should be tailored to the breed you´re attempting to train. Patience is required for training all dogs, but more is required for some than for others. German Shepherds are intelligent and take to obedience commands readily and with pleasure. Jack Russell´s are also very smart, but much more willful and will require a different technique.

With terriers, for example, distraction techniques are very handy. Terriers are high energy, highly active dogs. They have evolved to spot movement in an instant and go after the animal producing it. Keeping them focused is a real challenge, so make sure at all times that their eyes are on you. Use treats, toys or other objects and wiggle them to see that the terrier´s eyes are on you.

Collies are equally trainable, but much more mellow. They´re extremely loyal and protective, which is great. But it presents its own kind of challenges. A collie will spontaneously bark and chase any stranger who appears to threaten the family. That can be desirable for a watch dog guarding the house at night. But it can be annoying if carried out every time a child walks by along the sidewalk during the afternoon.

Bark collars are sometimes necessary under these circumstances, but remove the collar when the sun goes down. That way the dog may only associate the discouragement with daylight and still continue to function as a watch dog when it counts.

Dalmatians make for excellent companions, but they are ultra-energetic and very strong. That can be a troublesome combination for one that spends all its time in a small backyard with no one to play with. If you plan on owning one of these excellent dogs, be prepared to spend time working off some of that excess vitality.

Dalmatians need a large area so they can run at top speed - the only speed they know. They´ll work best with someone who can toss a ball far away, and has the presence to command them. They can be extremely loyal, but they need a strong hand. Being the alpha dog when faced with a Dalmatian requires a forceful owner.

Tailor your training regimen to the actual nature of your dog, including both those aspects derived from the breed and the unique characteristics of your specific dog. Just like humans, dogs are individuals.

Article Source: examiner.com
By Jeff Millman

Training a dog to walk nicely when on leash can be very frustrating and can seem daunting. My job as a dog trainer is to break down goals into small chunks for my clients to focus on.

One of the important strategies that I recommend is to be more interesting than the environment. When a dog pulls she is often interested in investigating something that is in the distance. If you make yourself really interesting and fun and games start when she appears by your side, then she will be more motivated to walk next to you.

Understanding motivation is critical to being a great dog trainer.  What entices or motivates a dog to do something? That understanding is key to success.

There are many ways that you can motivate a dog to walk nicely next to you. Here are some strategies that you can try with your dog to be more interesting so she is motivated to walk near you to see what other fun activity is going to happen!

1. Bring an outside-only toy with you. If your dog is not thrilled with toys, read this post about teaching a dog to like toys more. Keep a toy near your front door that your dog LOVES. Only use it on walks, and only give it to your dog when she is walking nicely. Gently take it away when she pulls.

2. Talk more. Enthusiasm is a way to keep your dog focused on you as well as provide information to her that she should continue doing what she is doing because she might get a treat or a toy.

3. Quick, gentle changes in direction. Occasionally turn quickly and go the other direction when your dog pulls. Never jerk or be rough with your dog. The changes in direction combined with enthusiasm when she is in the right position is a way to keep her focused on you.

4. Change speeds. If your dog wants to run, run with her for short spurts when she appears by your side. The goal is to make it worthwhile for her to walk in the “reward zone” because sometimes it results in toys, treats or quick sprints might occur.

5. Change your tone and volume of voice. Did you know talking really softly is one way to sometimes get dog’s attention? Try something like, “Hey. What’s over there? Let’s go check it out” and then start running towards something as soon as your dog looks at you. What are you doing? You are motivating your dog to pay attention to you. The more a dog pays attention to the person holding the leash, the less she is scanning the environment for something to pull towards.

6. Toy exhanges. Teach your dog to drop toys on cue and then practice toy exchanges on walks by  asking for “Drop”, and then throwing another toy within the length of the leash. You can continue this periodically on walks to give your dog exercise and mental stimulation. If you need to learn how to teach your dog to Drop, see my Puppy Biting and Rules of Tug video and see more leash walking strategies in my Intermediate Leash Walking video.

7. Reward eye contact. Read this post about teaching eye contact on walks. The more your dog is motivated to look at you, the less she will pull towards other distractions.

These are just a few of the many ways you can be more interesting than the environment to keep your dog focused on you. With practice, you will discover what works best to keep your dog interested in you.

Source from: stabroeknews.com

By Eileen Cox

The Guyana Society for the Preven-tion of Cruel-ty to Animals has kindly provided an article on ‘How to be a responsible Pet Owner.’  This is not the be-all and end-all of the subject.  As is stated in the article, there are books and material on websites for those who wish to derive the utmost benefit from owning a dog. Here goes:

How to be a responsible pet owner

Owning a dog brings many benefits, including, as some studies have found, a healthier and happier life for the owner. However, becoming a dog owner can also add many responsibilities to your life. A pet needs proper food, veterinary care (when necessary) and a safe environment to live in. This safe environment is one that has no place in which your dog can get hurt (by getting stuck or falling), and should also ensure that your dog is not able to roam freely in the public domain. If you own a dog or are thinking of doing so, make sure you can meet your responsibilities as a pet owner.

Preparing a safe environment for your pet

Before bringing a pet into your home, prepare a special place for it to eat and sleep. At first, try to maintain the animal’s daily schedule for play, eating, and answering the call of nature. You should pet-proof your home just as you would child-proof your home to avoid accidents. Harmful cleansers, plants, electrical cords, and breakable objects should be removed from potential contact with your pet.

Housebreaking

Housebreaking should be started as soon as a puppy arrives in your home. Young puppies cannot suppress their need to urinate or defecate for long periods of time. Therefore, as soon as they can walk properly, they should be taken out multiple times during the day (almost every hour at first and especially after periods of play, naps, and mealtimes. You should take the puppy to the same area each time and praise it immediately and enthusiastically when it eliminates. Do not play with, or talk to, the puppy until after it has urinated or defecated.

Obedience training

One of the first steps a responsible pet owner should take is to train his or her dog in basic obedience.

Many times, a dog exhibits “bad behaviour” simply because it did not receive basic obedience training. Pet owners can work with a professional dog trainer or can even train their dogs themselves.

Dogs are social animals and will display certain instinctive behaviour like digging holes in your yard, soiling your belongings and even biting people and other animals. While this is all normal behaviour for a dog, it is possible to prevent or treat certain canine behaviour problems so that they become acceptable in the usual domestic setting.

It is very important that the owner establishes a social hierarchy with the dog in which the animal understands that it plays a subordinate role. This may be done by teaching your dog to show submission through various obedience “tricks” like shaking hands (raising a paw), rolling over and the “sit” and “stay” commands. A properly trained dog will also go to its owner when called.

While some puppies may be at the age where they are easily distracted (and harder to train), most dogs will learn at any age. However, be warned that training a dog takes lots of patience and does not involve hitting the animal or any other violent techniques.

It is beyond the scope of this brief article to impart dog training skills. However, there are lots of good books written on this topic and many websites with good material for you to use. In the end, a well-trained dog is a joy to own and it is easier to control than an untrained one.

Source from: examiner.com

By Jeff Millman

There are certain topics in dog training that come up at least once per day. I find myself saying “Change the pattern, change the behavior” in many situations and I realized that this is a powerful concept that you might find useful when working with your dog.

My dog training philosophy is based on changing a dog’s behavior, and not focusing on what the dog might be thinking. Many people fall into the trap of making assumptions about why the dog performed a certain behavior and then run the risk of basing their training strategies on murky hypotheses. Examples of murky hypotheses include:

* “My dog jumped on me because he was being dominant.”
* “My dog urinated on my bed because she was being spiteful.”
* “My dog bit me because he is trying to take charge.”

I get many questions about why dogs do things and I often say, “I don’t know, but I do know that your dog did the behavior. That we can all agree upon, so let’s start there.” Once you move past the “why” and focus on changing behavior, your world may very well open up to a whole new way of looking at animal behavior. Keep in mind that this is not limited to dogs. You can use these strategies on any animal, including the two-legged variety that roam freely around the streets.

Behaviors can be innate (hardwired) such as breathing, yawning or blinking, or they can be learned such as sitting for a treat or responding to one’s name. Often dog behavior problems such as jumping are rooted in learned behaviors over time. How does a dog learn? A dog, like any animal learns through repetition. A situation presents itself, the dog responds in a certain manner and there is a consequence to his actions. If he enjoys the consequence, then the motivation kicks in and he wants to do that again!

Examples of learned behaviors include:

* Dog puts paws on person’s leg, dog gets petted
* Dog barks at person, person moves away
* Puppy grabs sock and runs, person chases, dog has fun

In each of the previous examples, the dog interacted with the environment in a certain way and, in turn, the environment responded in a certain way.

* In the first example, the dog put paws on the person’s leg and he got petted. What happens if he is never, ever, ever allowed to put his paws on the person’s leg? He doesn’t have an opportunity to learn that this might result in getting petted.
* In the second example, what if the dog was kept at a distance where he never felt like barking and never learns that barking causes a person to move away?
* In the third example, what happens if  the puppy is never left alone near socks and never learns that grabbing a sock might result in a fantastic game of chase?

I can tell you with certainty what would happen. The dog would never have a chance to decide if the consequence of his actions are enjoyable and these behaviors would not become strong, well-rehearsed “habits”.

So, how do you use this information with your dog?

Stop behavior patterns quickly when you see them developing. Make sure that you think about what you do not want your dog to do. If you don’t want your dog to dig holes in your nice garden, watch him like a hawk and prevent him from ever learning that digging holes is fun. Stop him as quickly as possible when it does occur, and redirect his behavior into a more acceptable behavior such as playing fetch or playing tug. If you can’t watch him, bring him inside.

Manage your dog’s access to the environment. Don’t be an absentee trainer. If you can’t watch your dog, manage him in a crate or dog-proofed area so he doesn’t learn that the couch tastes yummy, or it is fun to bark out of the window all day long and build barrier frustration in the process.

Change the chain of events.
For a dog that jumps on guests, the current chain of events might look like this:

* Dog sees person
* Dog runs towards person
* Dog puts paws on person’s legs
* Dog play bites hands of person

My recommended chain events looks like this:

* Dog sees person
* Dog doesn’t jump
* Dog sits to get petted

How to you change the pattern? First of all you need to stop the undesired chain of events from “going down the wrong path”. In this example, the situation degrades when the dog starts running towards the person, so that is where the focus should be placed. To prevent this from happening, the easiest thing to do is to have the dog on leash and prevent the dog from learning that he can run to the person and then jump and then get petted.

Friendly guests can derail great training by petting a dog for jumping. So, you need to take charge and make sure your dog never learns to do this behavior.

Do this:

* Have your dog on leash
* AS SOON as he sees your guest say, “Yes” or ‘click’ if you are using a clicker and give him a treat
* Move him a bit farther away if he is too interested in the events in front of him and continue the exercise
* As his interest moves from the events in front of him to getting a tasty treat, you can try and drop the leash (it is still attached to his collar) and continue working
* If that is too much for him, pick up the leash and try again
* At this point you can also ask for a “Sit” and reward that by giving a treat and also allowing your guest to come closer for petting
* If your dog jumps at this point, move him away and continue the exercise
* You can also redirect his attention by tossing his favorite toy down the hallway as soon as he sees your guests so he chases the toy instead of jumping on your guests

If you focus on stopping the chain of events before your dog starts the inappropriate behavior, you can change an infinite amount of behaviors including barking, digging, destruction, and even aggression.

Source from: canada.com

By Joan Klucha

As a trainer for over 15 years I have been fortunate to work with a wide range and number of dogs.

This time in the saddle, so to speak, has given me the opportunity to observe similar patterns in canine behaviour. These patterns of behaviour are not the equivalent to wild dogs or wolf behaviour but are actually behaviours you would never see a wild dog or wolf express in their natural environment. These behavioural patterns are a direct result of human interaction and handling.

One very common pattern is the “All about me” complex. These dogs have had a great deal of coddling, fussing, and cuddling as puppies, given whatever their whining and jumping has gotten them as adolescents and as adults they are obnoxious, demanding, and often labelled as out-of-control, as they have little or no time for training. They are the epitome of the spoiled child that throws a temper tantrum the first time their parents say the word “No!”

Owners of the “all about me” dogs are often confused about why their dogs are so “bad.” When in fact the dogs aren’t bad at all, they have simply been given far too many liberties and freedom and very few boundaries and limitations. This is because the owners have allowed their emotions to get involved with the training of their dogs.

When it comes to training dogs, there is no place for emotion. Emotions give dogs confusing messages about our intent because we are often confused about our intent. As a result the dog sees us as an unstable leader incapable of controlling a situation and they take over, often reluctantly.

An example of emotional training is when a dog is asked to sit. The dog refuses by ignoring the command, which in many circumstances is a natural first time response. The owner then raises the voice and the dog begins to show a healthy and normal submissive gesture towards the human by dropping its ears and tail. The resulting emotion from the human is that they have either scared their dog or have hurt their feelings somehow and thus discontinue the training. The dog then learns very quickly how to manipulate the situation and continues to defy the owner’s direction and play on the emotions of the human.

The appropriate step would be to ignore the dog’s attempts to manipulate the situation, but not ignore the dog and discipline the dog by forcing a sit. The dog then learns that there are consequences for its behaviour and is more likely to comply the next time to avoid the conflict of discipline and to incite praise and affection from the owner.

I want to stress that I am not advocating punishment. Punishment and discipline are two completely different things. Discipline means a form of consistent training that produces obedience and self control. Punishment implies severe treatment as a penalty for an offense.

In some cases the problem with a dog’s behaviour may not be as a result of over-affectionate owners but because the dog has not had any adequate dog-to-dog discipline. You are a lucky person these days if your puppy is raised by its natural mother and the mother understood the value of discipline.

But often this is not the case. Puppies are brought home early and then encouraged to limit dog-to-dog interaction due to fear of disease. As a result the puppies miss a valuable stage of learning that can only be had by interacting with other dogs at that particular period of their lives. The result is an adult that confuses other dogs with their lack of self control and often instigates conflict due to a lack of social cues.

Discipline should not be overlooked when it comes to training, and emotions should be left out, but I’m not implying that affection should as well.

Rather that the training should supply plenty of both but at the appropriate times.

Source from: americanchronicle.com

By Kenneth Elliott

Getting a new pet dog and the joy of having a new companion around comes with a lot of responsibilities. Of course you must feed your new pet, take care of its health with regular visits to the vet, groom him, and give it lots of love and attention. Many animal lovers do not think any further than that, but dog training is also a very important part of owning dogs. Dog training ensures a healthier and more fulfilling life for you and your pet.

Behavior Problems

Proper discipline can help prevent dog behavior problems later in your pets´ life. And proper behavior starts with first house breaking your dog. This is usually the most common form of dog training that most owners take on when first purchasing a dog, but a caring owner will often go a lot further than the basics. Your pet’s obedience will lead to a stronger bond between you, as well as meaning less frustration and annoyance. Your pets start learning and shaping behaviors early in life, so that is the best time to start with dog training basics.

Obedience Training

There are many aspects to dog obedience training, and not everyone looks to get the same experience out of it. Some people will be content with house breaking, leash training, and basic obedience to simple command. Many dog owners do not realize that they can change or prevent problem behaviors such as barking, whining, digging, growling, chewing, and aggression. Yet all these behaviors can be addressed with proper teaching. Decide what tutelage is most important for you and your pet, and make sure you are willing to invest the time and energy into a program that will yield the desired results.

Puppy Training

You can never start too early with puppy training. Many people hold the mistaken belief that puppies under six months are too young to train, but this is simply not so. You can start shaping their behavior the moment you acquire them if it is done in the proper manner. If you do some research, it is easy to find plenty of dog training books, websites about pet training, and obedience training tutorials. Some people may even consider hiring a professional instructor. Ask your veterinarian or friends if they know of any reputable trainers in the area, and shop around for the person who is right for you.

Professional Trainers

If you decide to use a professional trainer, be sure you keep the breed of your dog in mind when shopping around. Some breeds may be harder to train than others, so some trainers may prefer not to work with them. Alternatively, some trainers may specialize in certain breeds, so they will have more success with your pet than another trainer may have. Even if you are teaching your pet yourself, there are books and information geared toward certain breeds. Do not get discouraged if you are told your breed is hard to train, just look for proven methods to use. The hardest work always yields the greatest rewards.

Owning a pet is a big responsibility, but the right attitude can make it fun and rewarding. Do not think of your canine companion as an object for your amusement, but as a living creature that can become a treasured friend. Dogs are motivated by their owner’s pleasure, so if you work together, the dog training process will be an important step in your relationship. You will learn to trust one another, which will allow you to enjoy the pleasure of each other’s company. Teach your dog what you want and expect from him, and he will give you that and more in return.

Source from: canada.com

By Joan Klucha, Special To North Shore News

I remember a few years back I had a dog owner ask if her daughter could participate in the training of the family dog.

“Sure,” I said, as this was nothing new. I have parents and children in the classes all the time. But what was unique is that the mother dropped her child off at the dog training class, and she then proceeded to make her way down to the local pub where she spent the next hour and a half while her daughter trained the dog.

This went on for six weeks and at the end of the session I reminded her that my business was to help train her dog not mind her children. Her daughter did a fine job despite her mother’s lack of interaction, which is why I didn’t speak up sooner.

But it was after that incident that I began requesting — nope, insisting — that parents not only be present in the classes with their child but participating in the class as well.

When the dynamics of a family are working well children can do an amazing job training the family dog. This is because if they have made the decision on their own to train the dog, rather than it being a forced condition by the parents upon getting a dog, they are more often than not 100 per cent committed to the training. When they are in the classes they listen intently to instruction and follow it perfectly with little need for assistance.

I encourage parents to bring their child to training as the obedience classes are a great place for a child to establish a form of leadership over the dog. They can be taught how to get Fido to follow their direction and have their four-legged companion respect them.

But obedience classes are not the only place a child can learn how to be a good leader to their furry friend. Proper training and lessons on how to interact with a dog at home are essential as well, and with the parents’ help this training can be implemented for greater training success.

Most families with children get puppies. The idea is that the puppy and child can grow up together and develop a strong bond and friendship. This is often the case, but it can be a bit tumultuous when the child begins to treat the puppy like a living teddy bear or their best friend.

Often I hear parents say that the leadership rules of no sleeping on couches or beds is being followed, except by their son or daughter, and then they are confused as to why the dog is not following direction from them during the obedience classes.

This is because the dog is confused. Everyone in the home has to be on the same page so this means that Fido can no longer be snuggling with Timmy at bedtime or sharing Happy Meals from the back seat of the car.

Smaller dogs tend to get the most confusing treatment as they are often carried around like stuffed toys by children. And the dogs love it.

Whenever there is a problem the dog will often run to the child, the child picks up the dog and presto Fido, the 15-pound pug that is normally nine inches off the ground, has now grown four feet taller and become the instant boss of the house. What a great ego boost children are to those little dogs. Even large dogs will wander over to a child and invade their space and passively demand attention.

The child does not understand that the dog is being pushy and obnoxiously, underhandedly usurping power from the adults by sneaking unsolicited attention from the child. The child just thinks the dog loves him or her and wants to be shown more love.

Having a child train the family pet is a great experience, but the parents need to gently teach the child how to interact with their dog so that training can be successful for everyone.

Source from: americanchronicle.com

By Kenneth Elliott

Dogs are said to be mans best friend. But I will take it a little further than that. A well trained dog will become your best friend. Beyond being well socialized, a well trained dog removes the stress of the likelihood of biting someone. They also tend to stay calm in distracting environments. Not jumping up on people and being much more curtious on household furniture.

Also, well trained dogs are more likely to stay with the same owner, as opposed to being abandoned to the pound. Owners with well trained dogs are more satisfied with their decision on owning a dog. One research report from the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association found that 96% of shelter dogs had never had any training.

Training your dog helps to teach them boundaries, thus making them more comfortable around humans. There are many different dog training programs and many professional dog trainers. However, just because someone has a business card doesn’t mean they are a qualified trainer.

Finding a qualified trainer does not have to be a lot of work. If your friends have well trained dogs, ask them if they know of a good trainer. Also, take advantage of networking at your local park. While walking your dog ask other dog owners who they recommend.

Once you have found a trainer, ask them what method of training they teach. There have been dozens of different training methods for dogs that have been in and out of fashion over the years. Ask the trainer what method they use, why they use it, and what the benefits of it are. Also ask for references.

Whether you train your dog yourself or find a professional, teaching your dog commands and socializing it is important. Areas to cover in training include:

1. Socializing to strangers: This is easy to accomplish while out walking your dog around the neighborhood and introducing them to people.

2. Socializing with other dogs: You can do this at dog parks, or even better in a dog training class.

3. Leash walking at a steady pace: You can start this training as soon as you get your new dog.

4. Crate training: This is important, especially to build up a tolerance to stay in a kennel environment for several hours.

5. The sit command: This is usually the first command new owners teach their dog.

6. The down/stand command: These commands help develop boundaries for the dog.

7. The stay command: This command is important for your dog to master, especially in an environment with a lot of distractions.

There are many benefits to having a well trained dog. But it doesn’t necessarily mean the dog will not develop behavioral problems down the road, like separation anxiety. Simply put a well trained dog is a joy to be around and strengthens the human-animal bond.