One of the great joys of life is acquiring a new dog. Whether it is a lively fun seeking puppy or a mature dog from a rescue centre there is the excitement of collecting the dog and the eager anticipation of the pleasures of dog ownership to come. But how can you ensure a long and happy relationship? You need to learn about dog care and training as well as considering your own situation before you even start looking for a dog.

Considerations
At HomeAre there children in your household.Do you have other pets.Do you have a reasonable sized yard or garden.Have you considered the dog’s toilet arrangements.Are members of your family prepared to spend time training and exercising your dog.Can you fund good quality feed, some vet’s bills, insurance and kennel stays if necessary

Dog Breeds, Size and Weight

You will sometimes need to handle your dog e.g. grooming, trimming nails, bathing or lifting onto scales for a weight check. Obviously, the size and weight of your dog will make this easy (Chihuahua at 2.70 kg to 3.63 kg) or near impossible (St Bernard at 75 kg to 91 kg)

Exercise

Exercise is a key factor in maintaining your dog’s health. Small dogs like Jack Russell Terriers will not need as much daily exercise as a working breed such as a German Shepherd.You need to decide how much time can be given to the task. The less time available the more important it is to acquire a smaller dog.

Home Environment

If you like your house to be warm some dogs may find it distressing – a Shih Tzu dog for instance or a dog with a thick coat. If you have an immaculate home filled with expensive furniture, you will need to think carefully about the sort of dog you intend to buy especially if you want a puppy.

Grooming Your Dog

You need to groom your dog on a regularly. Size comes into it but so does the type of coat. A short coated dog is obviously going to pick up less dirt, and mud. and be easier to clean and groom. A muddy dog may require washing. This needs a facility such as an old fashioned tin bath. You could use your shower or even your own bath but it means a lot of cleaning up afterwards.

Temperament

You’ll find that working breeds, a broad group, including everything from guard dogs to sheep dogs are often more stubborn and tough-minded. Terriers are often bossy and a little aggressive. Hounds are usually relaxed and friendly, but sometimes difficult to train.
Carry out some research into different breed characteristics. Do this on line and ask your vet’s opinion. Dog breeders will normally promote their own breed so they are not necessarily the first people to ask for an opinion.

You will be looking to compare the following points.

Energy level
Activity and playfulness levels
Affection and Loyalty levels
Intelligence
Aggression (towards people/other dogs/other pets)
Ease of training
Heat and cold tolerance
Compatibility with people and other animals

Some Breed Comparisons:

Labrador

This breed is good with children and quite intelligent. They can be hyperactive if they do not get enough exercise because they are basically a working dog.

Golden Retriever
These dogs are similar in temperament to the Labrador but have less tendency to hyper activity
Poodle
An intelligent dog. It has an excellent temperament. It was used as a hunting dog in times gone by so it is quite tough by nature.

Beagle
Friendly, clever and not too big, making them suitable as a family dog. They can be over energetic if not exercised. They respond well to firm training.

Cairn Terrier
Busy little dogs that adapt well to children. They are usually of good quiet temperament

Collie
The Collie and the smaller Shetland are both calm, gentle and tolerant breeds that usually do well with children. They do need some constructive play i.e. fetching a ball etc.

German Shepherd
Very intelligent but it is a big dog and needs exercise and constructive play. It is loyal and a good guard dog. However, a German Shepherd must be properly trained.

Cross-Bred Dogs
Come in all shapes and sizes and typically should not suffer from in-bred temperament faults.

Owning a dog is great fun but you need to think carefully about management before you take on your new “best friend”.

The post Choosing A Dog? – Check This Out First first appeared on Puppy Blog.

Dogs love to bark. To non dog lovers, barking is a form of nuisance. You may have at one point in time received complaints from your neighbors about your dog’s barking. It can be very worrisome. Before you embark on dog barking training, it is important to understand why dogs bark. Dogs bark for the very same reason human beings talk. They are trying to communicate. When you have nothing to say, you remain quiet. When dogs bark, they are trying to get your attention. As you spend more time with your dog, you will learn more about the different barking sounds and what he is trying to tell you.

Having the Best Dog Training Tips is Important If You Want A Well Trained Dog.

A dog barks for many reasons. He may be trying to deter potential threats who have set foot in the house. In this case, the barking is loud to scare off the strangers. He may be caught up in excitement, and the sound of the barks is upbeat. It may even be some sort of a fanfare to welcome you home. Some dogs bark when they are bored, as a way to keep themselves entertained. Most people can tolerate a few seconds of dog barking, but when it becomes incessant, it can be very annoying. As a dog owner, you must know how to control your dog when it is barking.
Distract Him

When your dog goes berserk at the arrival of a house guest, you will have to get him to stop barking if not your guest will be intimidated. One of the best ways to stop a dog from barking is to distract him. You can grab his attention by whistling or clapping loudly. You may also instruct him to be quiet by yelling the usual command you have been using. Once his attention turns to you, shift his focus to a toy. You will need to do more than just getting him to be quiet. Get him to perform basic commands such as sitting so that his focus is off the “intruders” and on you.

Make Sure Your Dog Stays Active

As mentioned, some dogs bark because they are bored. They also bark to release pent-up energy. You can avoid unnecessary barking by not leaving your dog alone for a long duration. Be sure to play with him whenever you can find the time. Bring him out for a walk or exercise. Not only will he remain healthy, his barking will reduce.

Do Not Encourage Barking

Most dogs know that they will get attention from their owners when they bark. This is the same as a crying baby who demands attention from their parents. When they bark, their owners may scurry and bring them their meals. If you want your dog to stop barking, you may want to turn a deaf ear to it. Do not give him any attention; do not cuddle or scold him. Completely ignore your dog. He will soon know that his barking will yield no results.

These three steps are effective in helping you get started with your dog barking training. There are other techniques that you can use to stop your dog from barking incessantly.

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Next to barking, digging is a typical behavior that most dogs will display. The problem with digging is that it can cause serious damage to your properties. If you house your dogs in your apartment, they may burrow through your belongings or furniture. This damages your valuable items and causes a huge mess in your home. The last place you want your dog to be digging is your beautiful garden.

Having the Best Dog Training Guide is Important If You Want A Well Trained Dog.

What are the reasons why dogs dig? Well, the obvious is true: they love it. The second reason is because they are bored and they are trying to find excitement in these deep places. There are a few ways to figure out which category your dog falls into. Bring him out on long walks and get him to exercise. At the end of the day, if he is still digging through your stuff, it means that digging is a habit of his. Dogs that love to dig will continue to indulge in this activity even in your presence.

On the other hand, if your dog prefers playing with you to digging, it means that he needs more excitement and physical stimulation in his life. This is only true if you only bring him out on short and sporadic walks. What are the different ways to stop dog digging?

Use Natural Ingredients to Deter Digging
Consider sprinkling some pepper over the ground areas you want to protect. As the dog begins to dig, the pepper will irritate the eyes and nose. Your dog will then cease its digging. Always try to sprinkle a large amount at first, and then you can decrease the amount with time.

Build A Man-made Sand Box
Sure, you don’t want your dog to burrow through your stuff, but you need to give him a little something to satisfy his love for digging! You can consider building a sand box for him. You can even replicate Mother Nature by adding earth and grass into the sand. Try to bury some of his favorite toys underneath the surface. Praise him when he uncovers the buried treasure. Soon, he will love his sandy playground.

Purchase Some Toys
Dogs engage in digging when they are bored. However, it is not possible for you to entertain him 24/7. To prevent him from getting bored, you should consider buying him some toys. When shopping for toys, be sure to find one that is made of durable rubber material. Dogs also have a love for bouncy balls. Showering him with toys will allow him to keep himself entertained in your absence. Rotate the use of the toys so that he doesn’t get bored with any one toy.

Tire Him Out
If you need to be away for a few hours, you will need to wear your dog out before leaving him alone in your house. Take him out for a long walk and then engage him in an intensive obedience-training session. An exhausted dog will be too tired to think about digging. If you want your dog to stop digging, you must know how to stimulate his body and mind.
These are effective tips on how to stop dog digging. Punishing a dog when it begins to dig may prove to be counterproductive.

The post How to Stop Dogs Digging Instantly – 100% Effective Dog Training Tips That Work first appeared on Puppy Blog.

Nothing gives your dog greater pleasure than to be taken for a walk outside. This is a great time to bond with your dog and work on your dog training classes, however, most owners don’t enjoy taking their dogs for a walk. And that’s because they’re not taking the dog for a walk-the dog is taking them for a walk.

When our dogs leap around in delight at the mere sight of their leash in our hands, we often smile indulgently and think how adorable their excitement is. We struggle to keep them still just long enough to clip the leash onto their collar before they are off again. That is not how you want to train your dog to behave.

Even a small dog tugging incessantly on the end of its lead is not enjoyable; a large dog capable of pulling you off your feet is even less so. It is time again to remind your dog who is the leader and who is the follower. Every interaction with your dog is an opportunity to reinforce the basic precepts of dog training. Don’t ignore this, thinking that a well-behaved dog doesn’t enjoy walks as much as a boisterous one. Believe me, they do!

The first step is to insist your dog sit calmly while you strap on its lead. Ideally, your dog has already been trained to sit on command. Have your dog sit and then pause a moment to make sure he is calm. Attach the lead.

If the dog begins to jump around again, stop and command him to sit. Don’t yell at him. You are training your dog that it is his own behaviour that delays his walk. Every time he sits quietly, immediately recognize and reward without getting him overly-excited. Once you attach his lead and he remains calm, only then do you take him outside.

The next thing is to let your dog relieve himself. Once that pressure’s off, your dog is going to be anxious to investigate every smell within sniffing distance, which is the main reason dogs pull so hard. If you pull back, their instinct is to pull harder, not ease up.

You have two options to train your dog to stop pulling on the leash. If he pulls, you can command him to sit, and refuse to move until he does, alternatively, you can do an abrupt about-face and begin walking in the opposite direction. Using the sit command works well with dogs that are fairly well trained; walking in the opposite direction is more effective if your dog tends to ignore you. You may feel a little silly at first but don’t let that deter you. You are the leader and you choose in which direction to walk.

Every time the dog pulls ahead and you swiftly turn away, he’ll find himself behind you, forced to walk in the direction you dictate. The idea is to train your dog that pulling on the leash immediately stops the walk.

If you are vigilant, you’ll soon find your dog trotting alongside of you, waiting for your cue as to where to go. And everyone you pass will admire your well-trained dog!

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Dog owners have many methods of training their dogs to choose from today. A number of these methods use only positive reinforcement; others utilize positive and negative reinforcement while others use incentives like treats. The difference in dog training techniques mainly lies in the specific procedures and commands that the dog is being trained. The most appropriate training technique for a dog depends on the dog owner’s or the trainer’s preference and the desired end result.

No matter the training method, these tips will substantially assist you understand and choose the best training technique for your dog.

Dog training Tip 1

Start the training when the dog is still as young as possible. However, it is not practical to train a dog younger than 49 days.

Dog training Tip 2

At the beginning, the training sessions should not last over 15 minutes. At advanced stages, dog training may go on for up to several hours but a beginner dog has a short attention and interest span. Even after the dog is accustomed to the training, obedience training should not last over twenty minutes. If you suspect that the dog is losing interest, end the session.

Dog training Tip 3

End all dog training sessions on a positive note. It will not go well if you end the session with a bad note, like after you just disciplined the dog. If necessary, create a positive situation just before you end the training session.

Dog training Tip 4

Schedule the dog training sessions at a certain time of the day. After awhile, the dog will learn the timing and will even show excitement when it is almost time for the next training.

Dog training Tip 5

Use light weight leashes or leads that are about six feet long for all training sessions. Using heavy leather leashes are heavy and very distractive.

Dog training Tip 6

Consistency in the command you use to train the dog is very important. The dog gets accustomed with certain words that it takes as keywords. For instance, if you train the dog to understand “sit” to sit and “Dowd” to lie down, it would be very confusing to it to tell it to “Sit Down”. Try as much as you can to avoid using negatives. The best example is telling the dog “Don’t Sit”. It will just grasp the word “Sit” and do what it understands by it. Other phrases that should not be used are phrases like “Please sit”, “come and sit”, “Sit boy” etc.

Dog training Tip 7

Play the dog’s favorite game for at least 5 minutes after the training to make the dog excited about the training. This will boost a positive experience and make it look forward to training sessions.

Dog training Tip 8

Use the same volume and tone in instructing the dog. You can make a special “command tone” so that the dog can have an easy time understanding the commands each time. However, after the training, practicing with different tones, volume or even by different people will assist reinforce the commands.

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