Tips on Training a Dog -By Roger Thompson

Among the several key responsibilities dog owners have,
training a dog is among the most essential. A dog that has been
trained properly will be able to form a more fulfilling
relationship with its owner and other people or pets. This
article will give you some tips and advice on how to train your
dog.

First of all, you need to realize that training a dog is not
simply about telling your dog what to do and expecting it to
follow suit. Training your dog will require you to first
understand how dogs behave. The behavior of a dog is the outcome
of several factors. These will play a role in affecting the
outcome of your dog training.

Some Advice On Understanding Dog Behavior

©Note that dogs are individually different. Thus, you should
get to know your dog as much as possible before training. For
instance, try to find out why your dog keeps barking. There are
numerous reasons for excessive barking, and these include
separation anxiety, protection of territory, fear, and so on.

©Observe your dog in social settings. Behavior is never
completely acquired or inherited, but rather progressed based on
the merged influences. Socialization is important in a sense
that you'll be able to observe how your dog will adjust in a
dynamic environment and effectively handle unacceptable
behavior.

©Know that dogs are thinkers as opposed to animals that simply
behave. While dogs are unable to solve complex problems, they
are not behavioral robots, either.

Steps To Training A Dog

Understand that there are 2 parts to training, and these are
behavioral training and command-response training. The first
part is to correct behavioral problems (such as aggressive
behavior) and the latter is to teach a dog to obey commands.

Prepare a quite place that has minimum distraction. During
training, state your command in a loud (but not frightening) and
firm manner. The usual advice is to use the same hand movements
together with each command. Repeat yourself until your dog obeys
your command. Every time it does, reward with a tidbit or nice
pat. Of course, you should already have an idea what type of
reward your dog is most motivated by. Maintain 10 to 15-minute
training sessions at least twice a day. As you go along, work
your way to training your dog in more public, less-confined
locations.

Tips

Generally, reinforcement through consistency and repetition is
key in training any dog. Both good and habits are developed when
an activity is repeated over and over again consistently. So
while training your dog, it's important to be persistent and
even if your dog already excels, training should be a continuous
practice.

Tips For Training An Aggressive Dog

Behavioral training is slightly different in a sense that
you're attempting to modify your dog's behavior. In any case,
the very first thing to do is to spot exactly what is causing
your dog's unacceptable behavior and eliminating it or slowly
turning it into something positive. For instance, if your dog
has a fear of strangers, properly socializing it with other
humans or dogs may help. Of course, this needs to be done with
safety precautions, by using a muzzle first for instance.
Behavioral training can be extremely challenging, thus, an
advice would be to check out some dog training schools for
assistance.

Want to read more articles, please visit
http://www.dogtraining888.com.

About the Author: Roger Thompson writes articles that offer the
best tips on training a dog. His carefully though articles about
the topic will surely help you make your dog extra-obedient.
More articles by Roger Thompson at
http://www.dogtraining888.com.

Source: http://www.isnare.com

Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=492875&ca=Pets

Why Does My Dog Chew Everything? By Cheree Miller

Why does your dog chew everything? There isn't a single answer
to that question. Dogs chew for a variety of reasons. Some
just seem have an an inborn need to chew. They find it
pleasurable. Others seem to chew only if they are bored.

Is there a difference between "Chewing" and "Destructive
Chewing"? I suppose it's up to the beholder. When you get
right down to it, chewing is destructive by its very nature!

Your dog has strong jaws full of sharp, pointy teeth. Puppies
especially have very sharp teeth, and a strong chewing instinct.

Just about anything your dog starts to chew on is probably
going to show the effects of it inside of a minute.

As a point of clarification, when w say "destructive chewing"
we usually mean "inappropriate chewing". You know, chewing up
your possessions, your furniture, your shoes, as opposed to
chewing on designated toys and dog chews.

There are three main reasons why dogs chew:

* Chewing is a natural desire. It's fun, it passes the time,
and it's a self-rewarding, self-reinforcing activity. As
example would be chewing on something that tastes good.

* Chewing is an outlet -- especially for a nervous, bored, or
lonely dog. The repetitive act of chewing is actually quite
soothing to your dog. It's the doggie equivalent of comfort
food.

* Chewing burns up nervous energy and gives your dog something
to do. This is especially true in the case of dogs who don't get
enough exercise.

So, how do you keep your dog from chewing up your prized
possessions? The secret to that burning question is in the
list of reasons why your dog chews in the first place! Here are
three tips:

* Give your dog something tasty to chew on.

* Make sure your dog has other activities, or playmates, to
help prevent boredom. Dogs will usually chew when they are left
alone, or when you are sleeping or otherwise ignoring them.

* See to it that your dog gets plenty of exercise to burn off
that energy. If your dog is exercised properly, chances are he
will be tired and ready for a nap rather than ready to chew up
everything in sight!

Of course, one final word of advice: If you can't lock your
prized possessions safely away from your dog, then confine your
dog when you cannot watch her. It isn't good for you, your
things, or your dog to launch into punishment mode when the
situation could have -- and should have -- been avoided in the
first place.

In order to stay on friendly terms with "man's best friend"
take the upper hand early on. Your dog looks to you for
guidance and leadership. Preventing your dog from chewing up
your things in the first place is your best bet. It's easier to
prevent the habit in the first place than it is to break it
later.

If you are looking for more dog training tips, be sure to click
on the link below in my resource box.

About the Author: Cheree is the founder of Mill Creek Animal
Rescue. Visit http://NewPetZone.com for the latest news and
product reviews for a healthier happier pet! While you're
there, download a copy of the free report: Five Dog Training
Myths.

Source: http://www.isnare.com

Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=334734&ca=Pets