There are dozens of different kinds of dog training courses, but no matter how advanced a dog (and his owner) might be, all dogs and owners begin their training by learning the basics usually at a training class. Oh?did you think that dog training courses were JUST for training the dog? You're wrong about that. Dog training courses (the good ones) are intended to train the dog OWNER as well as train the dog.

As a matter of fact, the first session of a dog training course is only for the owners. The dogs are left at home and the owners go to class. This first meeting is usually called "orientation." At this first class, the owners are instructed as to what collars, leashes, and treats that you will need to provide for your dog. You will also be instructed about what the course consists of, what will be expected of the dog, and what will be expected of you.

Usually the most basic beginner courses teach: Paying attention, the "Come" command, staying in a sit and down position, socialization, how to greet people with out jumping up on them, "Sit" and "Down" commands, the "Leave it" command, and controlled leash-walking. All of these things are taught to a completely untrained dog or puppy in six weeks' time. However, the dog and the owner don't learn how to do all of these things in just six hours of class time. Oh no! There is HOMEWORK, and lots of it.

As a matter of fact, the owner will be handed homework instructions at orientation. The owner will work with the dog for a full week and then the owner and the dog go to class. You see, dog training courses are actually training an owner how to train a dog.

Tags: dog behavior problems, train your puppy, canine training, puppy training, dog accessories, dog trainings

You might have heard the old saying, "The shortest way to a man's heart is through his stomach." It is also true that the shortest way to dog's BRAIN is through his stomach. Dogs love meal time. Meal time ranks right up there with a good romp or a leisurely nap on a cold winter day. Meal times are GOOD, from a dog's point of view. So why waste this training opportunity when you have his full and undivided attention as you prepare his food bowl? The answer is that you shouldn't.

Getting a dog's attention is the first part of any training session. The dog MUST pay attention to the trainer, or there will BE no training session. Actually I discovered this mealtime training technique quite by accident.

I had a mixed breed dog several years ago that I was trying to obedience train, and to say that I wasn't having much luck would be a gross understatement. "No luck at all" would be a better description.

Finally, one day after a particularly nonproductive training attempt, I went into the kitchen to prepare the dog's supper dish. The dog was fixated on my every move and I thought, "Ah HA", you little rascal, "now I have your attention"! So, holding the bowl in my hand and in my most authoritative dog-training voice AND with the sit hand-gesture, I said, "SIT." I got a blank look ? along with a lot of tail wagging. I sat the bowl on the kitchen cabinet and started to walk away. The dog gave a loud bark that said, "What's the matter with you? That's MY bowl and I can reach it!"

I again picked up the bowl and gave the same "SIT" command. Nothing. I sat the bowl on the cabinet again. There was another bark. I picked up the bowl and again gave the "SIT" command. And lo and behold ? this time, that stubborn little doggy behind hit the floor in a perfect sit position!

Tags: dog trainings, train a dog, train dogs, dog training, dog aggression, potty training dogs

The easiest bad doggy habits to break are the ones that are never formed in the first place. You don't have to "break" a dog from chewing everything in sight if he never STARTS chewing everything in sight. You don't have to "break" a dog from barking at nothing at all when he has never formed the bark, bark, bark, bark habit. Along with simple and basic obedience training, a puppy needs simple and basic acceptable social behavior training, as well.
the beginning ? from the first day that you bring a puppy home and make him a part of your family ? he needs to be taught what IS acceptable behavior and what is NOT acceptable behavior, and he won't know unless YOU tell him. Puppies, of course, learn through play the way the young of every species on earth learns.

If you watch a mother dog with her litter, she allows the pups to play together with little interference from her, but when they get too rough or when they do not obey her command, she will chastise them. She doesn't hit them or hurt them. She rolls the pup that has transgressed over onto his back and stands over him. This behavior tells the pup that he is not in charge and that he WILL do as he is told. You must use the same kind of techniques with your puppy that a mother dog uses.

When you are playing with the puppy, for example, and he nips your hand, roll him over and his back and firmly say "NO"! Don't play with the puppy in a way that causes him to bark. He will learn that barking is entertainment, and you don't want that to happen. When you play with your puppy, you always need to be in charge of the play. The puppy will learn that you are in charge of him. He will recognize you as the alpha dog of his new pack ? your family ? and you can simply prevent a lot of bad behavior if you play with your puppy in ways that don't teach him bad habits.

Tags: agility training, train a dog, dog trainings, dog behavior problems, train dogs, potty training dogs