Leash training involves teaching a dog to walk on a leash with no pulling or jerking. There are three major techniques for imparting this knowledge to your favorite pooch.  But before you set out on that trail, there are a few things you’re going to need.  You’ll need some sort of collar, whether it be a simple buckle collar, a head halter (not for use on short-muzzled breeds) or a harness (not recommended for strong pullers); you’ll need a good leash made of nylon, chain or leather (Flexi leashes are recommended for trained dogs only); and some training treats. Read More...

As a general rule, it’s best to begin training your puppy at an early age, and the earlier the better.  Contrary to the old saying, you can teach an old dog new tricks, but good doggie habits are frequently learned faster and much easier while still in the puppy stages.  The longer you delay training, the more apt the dog is to develop bad habits and will certainly need to be deprogrammed from these habits.

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Teaching your dog to sit is a very valuable tool and also serves as a foundation for further training.  The sit command can lead into many other commands. A sitting dog is under your control. This sit command can then be followed by a wide variety of additional commands, including the stay command.  Sit and stay are used in combination with yet more commands. Stay is used to give you peace of mind and enhance your dog’s safety.

Another command that is used in conjunction with the sit command is the lie-down command. This control allows even more control over the standard sitting.  Even people who aren’t dog owners are familiar with this command and can use it when dogs are troubling them.  The better your dog is at it, the better it can get along with unfamiliar persons and guests.

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Clicker training is a modern and fairly new dog-training technique. It can be an enjoyable, successful, and compassionate way to train your dog.  Currently it is used to teach dog film stars, police K-9 squads, guide dogs, seeing-eye dogs and dogs that perform at theme parks. Now it can be used on your own dog!

Clicker training involves the use of a small plastic noisemaker called a clicker and is based on the concept of operant conditioning, which essentially means to associate a behavior with a consequence.  Read More...

Prior to training your dog to come on command, there are a few things you need to be conscious of.  First and foremost, don’t call your dog if you are going to punish him or correct him.  It’s very important that you associate the “come” command with a positive experience for your dog from the very beginning.  Otherwise your dog will believe that it is being disciplined for coming to your command, and we don’t want that.  If your dog is misbehaving in some manner and you need to recall him, don’t use an angry tone.  First give him the sit or stay command and then go get him.

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By Chris Campbell 

Previous dog owners are all very well aware of the unique bond that can be formed between master and dog. Previous dog owners could also tell you about the responsibility, the long term commitments, and responsible consideration for society and the people in it, when it comes to your dog. Of course most people, whether they have owned a dog or not, realize what a loyal and affectionate friend a puppy can be if treated properly and taught the difference between good and bad behavior. Choosing a new puppy, is not just a matter of the heart, but firstly a matter of the head when making this important decision. You need to logically consider things like how big the puppy will grow to, what potential health issues there could be, what the temperament of the dog will be, and how well that will fit into you and your families life style. Of the many important questions you should ask yourself before choosing a new puppy as a pet, probably the most important question is one you should ask yourself.

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Dr. Gary L. Ailes

Taking your pooch for a walk can be a struggle. He pulls your arm out of its socket and then abruptly stops to smell and sprinkle every bush and tree as you trip over him.

In my 31 years of veterinary practice and as a dog owner, I have found that using a little dog psychology and some practical techniques will help you during your next walk around the block.

Always use a leash, or you may discover your pooch following the glorious world of smell from one interesting place to another, and by the time he raises his head to check his bearings, he is clueless.

Use ID tags with your current phone number on your dog’s collar and/or a high-tech chip ID that is implanted under the skin. That’s without a doubt the quickest way to get your buddy back if he gets off the leash and makes a run for it. The implanted chip is backup in case the collar slips off.

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Declan Tobin

Dogs are a fantastic addition to any family, but like all youngsters, they need training. If you do not train your puppy now it will take a serious amount of help from a training school to get him to be obedient later on. Puppies, just like babies, learn mostly in their early years and unfortunately will also pick up the bad habits, too. Early attention will save you heartache later on and give you more quality time.

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Training your dog can be time-consuming and frustrating at times, but it’s well worth it. Here are several tips that should help things go much smoother and faster… plus reduce the frustration both you and your dog feel!

Conduct “play training” whereby the training tasks are made into fun games and your dog’s play drive is used as motivation. There are a lot of really good books available on this type of training.

Intelligent dogs can also be stubborn, so you may have to outwit them!

While training your dog, you have to make him want to do what you want him to. You can’t make him do stuff unless it is fun. Otherwise you are wasting both your time and his.

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Charles Burke

Puppy crate training is one of the most effective ways to housebreak your new puppy.

Puppy crate training takes a little patience, but it’s a good way to set your puppy on the right path. This method has an impressive track record.

Be sure to prepare everything ahead of time. Even before you bring your new puppy home, have the puppy crate ready and waiting.

The size of the crate is important. For proper puppy crate training, you should have plenty of room in the crate for the puppy to turn around, stand and lie down, but don’t get one that’s too big. Puppies feel uncomfortable in a crate that’s so big they rattle around in it.

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