We’ve all seen them. Those carefree dog food commercials that feature adorable, furry puppy’s jumping on the laps of children, licking their faces and, for the most part, being on their best behavior. Unable to resist the allure of this loveable scene played out on television, many children ask their parents for a dog of their own.

Many parents submit to the requests. After all, a puppy would make a great companion, it might distract the youngster from the PlayStation gaming console for a while, and it just might teach him or her some responsibility. But buying the dog is easy. The hard part is training it to act like the dog in the commercial. And that task becomes even trickier when there are kids involved. Most kids don’t know the first thing about being with and training a dog, and many parents could use some remedial training as well.

Whenever a parent makes the important decision to purchase a dog for the kids, they should also make the commitment to enroll the dog (and its adolescent companion) in formal training classes. I have found that Bark Busters, the only international dog training company that offers a lifetime guarantee, to be one of the most effective, proven dog training companies around. Bark Busters uses a dog’s own innate pack mentality, voice commands and body language to teach most dogs the basics in roughly two hours.

“Dogs are pack animals,” says Liam Crowe, Bark Busters president, CEO and master trainer. “They have a specific way of interacting, which includes an instinctual manner of communication. Learning how to communicate effectively with your dog in a language he understands is the first step toward establishing leadership and control.”

First and foremost, never buy a dog as a toy substitute. Dogs are living, breathing creatures with feelings. Children should be taught this fact from an early age and should be shown how to treat dogs with respect. By adopting a new dog for the right reasons and instilling the right mindset within the child, a parent takes the first step in avoiding undesired consequences, such as mistreatment and neglect.

After you have adopted a dog for the right reasons, go out and find a local trainer immediately before you become “dogged” with bad canine habits. In the meantime, here are a few safety tips to make sure your new pet and your child make it together safely to their first training class.

Never leave a child or baby alone with a dog. When visiting friends or relatives who have a dog, do not allow your child to play in the yard unsupervised. If that is not possible, ask the owners to put the dog away.

Do not allow your child to feed a dog unsupervised, as some dogs can be very protective of food. Also, never allow your dog to snatch food from your child. It not only teaches the dog bad manners, but it endangers the hand that feeds it.

Do not allow your child to pull on the dog’s collar to lead it outside the house, as it could bite them. Children without adult supervision should not be allowed to walk a dog, as the child could be dragged unwittingly into a fight with another dog. The dog should be taught to respond to a verbal command. However, if the dog does not respond to a verbal command given by the child, correction should be given by the parent, not the child. In fact, under no circumstances should a child ever discipline a dog. That is the parents’ job.

In addition to the above tips to help parents create a safe environment for their children and their new dog, here are some additional tips that parents should teach their children for when they are not around to directly supervise them. Children should be instructed to:

1) Never pet a strange dog, even if his owner is present.
2) Stay away from a dog while he is eating and sleeping.
3) Stop your bike if chased while riding.
4) Never retrieve a ball from someone else’s yard.
5) If visiting friends who have dogs, ask them to put their dogs away if you want to play.
6) Stay away from a dog that has puppies.
7) Stay away from a dog that is tied up.
8) Never pull a dog’s tails or ears; dogs feel pain, too.
9) Never tease a dog or make it angry.
10) Stand totally still if a dog runs at you barking. Cover your face with your hands. If knocked to the ground by a dog, roll into a ball, cover your face with your arms and stay as still as you possibly can. Do not try to get up.

Adopting a dog can be fun-both for the parent and the child. A dog can provide one of the best forms of companionship possible, it teaches the children some responsibility and it brings smiles to all. By following the above tips and enrolling your dog in a local training course, you may soon have the dog food companies calling you for a TV spot.

The post Dog Safety Tips For Children And Parents first appeared on Puppy Blog.

Dog training offers dog owners an easy way to teach their dog obedience and good pet manners. Before you choose a dog training course and get started on the road to perfect pet obedience. If you are a dog owner, chances are that you have contemplated dog training for your dog or have in fact enrolled your pup in a dog training class or two. Some dog owners like to send their pets to dog training schools for a more disciplined, semi-strict environment while others prefer to train them in the comfort of their own home. For those puppy or dog owners who wish to train their pets at home, here are some simple and effective dog training tips to keep in mind while doing so:

• Be patient. Your dog will know if you are rushed or stressed while training them and this alone could throw off the dog training session. So, in the very beginning, make sure that you are the picture of calmness and patience.

• Be disciplined. Although you have to be patient, you must also be disciplined. Your dog needs the structure that he/she would get from a dog training school even when it is you that is teaching them the right training skills.

• Offer well-deserved rewards. Your dog should also be rewarded for their efforts with treats and words of praise. This will not only let them know that they did a great job but also make them more likely to enjoy the following dog training sessions.

• Don’t overdo it. Know your pet’s limits and make sure that you train them efficiently but do not overwork them or exhaust them while doing so.

These tips will help you to train your pup and get them to the obedience level you desire. The following are some benefits of dog training.
Of course there are many benefits to having your faithful companion up for a dog training course.

• First, a dog training course will ensure that your furry will listen to commands and be on his/her best behavior. This is essential not only for when the dog is in the house but also out and about with other people and pets.

• Dog training will also help the pet owner to learn tips on keeping their pet on track. The dog trainer will not only teach the dog commands but also the dog’s owner so that he/she can use the commands at home.

• Lastly, dog training is not a difficult task. When you choose a reputable dog trainer and the right dog training course, your dog will quickly learn the basics and most likely show improvement each and every class.

The post Simple And Effective Dog Training Tips first appeared on Puppy Blog.

Dog training offers dog owners an easy way to teach their dog obedience and good pet manners. Before you choose a dog training course and get started on the road to perfect pet obedience, it is good to take a look at the benefits and costs associated with dog training.

What Are the Benefits of Dog Training?

There are many benefits to signing your faithful companion up for a dog training course. First, a dog training course will ensure that your pet will listen to commands and be on his/her best behavior. This is essential not only for when the dog is in the house but also out and about with other people and pets. Dog training will also help the pet owner to learn tips on keeping their pet on track. The dog trainer will not only teach the dog commands but also the dog’s owner so that he/she can use the commands at home. Lastly, dog training is not a difficult task. When you choose a reputable dog trainer and the right dog training course, your dog will quickly learn the basics and most likely show improvement each and every class.

How Much Does Dog Training Cost?

In addition to the benefits associated with dog training, you should also know how much it costs. Dog training courses will vary in price but most dog training courses with a number of dogs being trained at the same time will cost less than a one-on-one session with a dog trainer. You may also find that you can receive discounts if you enroll more than one pet in the dog training course. By reviewing your options, you are certain to find plenty of cost effective options with regard to dog training courses.

With the many benefits which go along with dog training and the reasonable costs of dog training courses, it is easy to see why many dog owners enroll their dogs in dog training courses.

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