This is a common question that most first-time Dog owners ask me. Before I answer your question, let me ask you a few instead:

If your answers are mostly in the negative, its time you seriously reconsider your role as a sincere Dog trainer and an ideal pet parent.

Learn how to bond with your Dog with this free mini course.

Get Your Dog To Listen To You

Before you begin any training, you must first establish yourself as the "ALPHA dog" of your family. Your Dog must know that you’re the leader of the pack and it is YOU who is in charge.

Here is a list of simple DO’s and DONT’s that you must follow if you want to be the Alpha:

Once you successfully established yourself as the Alpha, training your Dog and making him listen will be a lot easier than you can imagine. Remember, if your Dog does not learn to "listen", all your training efforts will be in vain!

Does your Dog know his name? Does your Dog look at you whenever you call him by his name? This is the first and the most critical step involved in Dog Training. If your Dog doesn’t respond to his name, you cannot have his attention for teaching him any other commands.

To make sure that your Dog recognizes his name, take a treat in your hand and hold it away from your body. Call your Dog’s name. He is most likely to look at the treat in your hand. Continue calling his name untill he turns and looks at your eyes. Give him the treat immediately. Repeat this exercise by holding the treat in the other hand. Once you’re sure that your Dog has learnt to recognize his name, just call his name and reward him for looking at you by petting or with a hug.

You must understand that Dogs respond far better to positive reinforcement than they do to coercion or force.

Learn how to train your Dog better with this free mini course.

Copyright (c) 2009 TrainPetDog.com

The post Why Won’t My Dog Listen To Me? first appeared on Puppy Blog.

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.

Not all great dog training will continue to work on all sorts of puppy. Not really with regard to causes you could be thinking. It is not usually regarding your own dog’s personality, prominence and want to lead.It has to take into account the type as well as its dimensions. Did you know that a few canine traces appear to have much more genes that create generating, energetic as well as willing dogs? Then there are the actual dogs which are actually built to execute numerous instructions which other dogs cannot.

This will be significant to know when getting a puppy or perhaps when you start training your dog. It may be that she or he will not be developed to do that that you simply wish.
In choosing your puppy, decide if you want to get into your pet directly into behavior contests. Even if you not be as well particular if your puppy canrrrt do some things for you personally, if you plan to contend it is necessary which he can.

Whatever is your goal, you ought to commence training your dog as soon as possible, around 2 months. Yet again, this will be determined by your dog. Little dog breeds tend to fully developed faster actually and will handle the actual physical issues to train, for instance seated straight. In cases like this, you could start training the scaled-down dog earlier than you are able to a more substantial puppy.

Despite a puppie’s evident actual limitations usually do not believe that your puppy no longer can do specific tasks, as in speed training. A large barrier is not a worry for a In german shepherd who is able to breeze across this without bypassing any beat. You might think your tiny terrier might never make such a step. He might just big surprise an individual.

Some types have a problem seated directly on the haunches. They have an inclination in order to bad times to at least one aspect. This is linked to the dog’s build. This had not been made to take a seat like this. Which also implies that he will have difficulties trying to sit up for you.

Don’t quit, nevertheless. It could be a short-term circumstance, particularly in young puppies that have not yet arrived at bodily maturation. Huge type dogs are a fantastic example of when this can be a hassle.
Exactly what ideal agenda for excellent k9 training?

Since mentioned, your own puppie’s dimensions and also type will effect your dogs education schedule and also workout routines. Here is a criteria of what to anticipate when training a dog.
Training is most beneficial whenever included in to a dog’s natural actions. From the moment you get your pup, motivate as well as compliment the woman’s interest. You need her to master to respond to you prior to beginning the woman’s education. Then you need to requirement the girl interest to ensure that the lady reacts in your guidelines. Simply by getting the girl directly into in which function early on, she will commonly give consideration when you start instruction.

Pups associated with 3-6 several weeks old are quite in a position to learn simple directions associated with sit, down, stand are available, however , you need to trainer the girl carefully and also cautiously. Here is the interpersonal as well as fear imprint period. When it is a painful or fearful experience, you will have difficulty along with her. So it is vital that you end up being soft however firm together with her during this time period. To make certain you offer excellent canine training, take into account the numerous elements discussed. Just do not undervalue the girl.

The post Excellent Dog Training Considers The Reproduce And Also Dimension first appeared on Puppy Blog.

If you own a dog, you must give it the same health care you give yourself in order to have a healthy pet dog. Dogs suffer from many of the diseases that we contact such as fever, arthritis and cancer. In addition to that, they suffer from diseases that are specific to dogs also. Therefore, you must be prepared to handle dog health problems if you are a dog owner.

Prevention is better than cure even with dogs. Therefore, you must do everything possible to avoid facing dog health problems with your canine friend. The most important thing with a dog is to give it a balanced diet. Choose a good brand of dog food and stay with it. A cup of yoghurt once in a way is a good way to avoid dog health problems

Exercise for your dog is as important as it is for you if not more. Due to this reason, large breeds such as Dalmatian and German shepherd should not be had if you are not able to provide it sufficient space for exercise. If you give your pet the exercise it needs, you will be able to avoid a lot of dog health problems.

Another very important issue with dogs is that they love the company of their master. Therefore, you must spend some quality time with it. If you have a pet dog, you cannot avoid this due to your busy schedule. If you do not find time, your pet will develop anxiety which will lead to serious dog health problems.

Proper care and grooming is essential for your dog for its health as well as your health. As dogs could harbor a multitude of bacteria and viruses you must clean it frequently and comb its hair. Also you need to take care of its teeth in order to avoid dog health problems. Most dog lovers brush the teeth of their pets as the dog trainers suggest. In addition to these basic issues, you need to keep records of any dog health problems your dog faced and you need to give the right vaccinations on time in order to have a healthy pet.

The post How to Prevent Dog Health Problems first appeared on Puppy Blog.