The Official Dog Blog

How To Choose The Best Dog Obedience School

Who doesn’t want a well behaved dog? This can be achieved by no other than dog obedience training. However, having your pet trained the right way may not be that easy for you. You may have a very busy schedule or you simply don’t have the patience to pull things over. Thus, your ordeal is solved because there are numerous schools that can handle your pet very well.

When you take a walk at the park or just within your neighborhood, you surely have seen those pet owners who are problematic with their unruly dogs. Sometimes, you experience losing your patience because your pet just would not budge despite the commands you have given him. Or it could be that your dog goes wild and feels agitated whenever he sees people or other dogs. Such is a major problem that you have to face.

Well, don’t feel flustered and resigned. There is an immediate solution which you may turn to. That is by enrollling him in a dog obedience school. You can always hire a professional trainer who has the ample expertise to communicate with your pet and have him all focused to listen. The basic commands can be learned and of course be responded to. Proper training will therefore make things easier for you and your dog.

So, how do you choose the school for your dog? Here are some noteworthy steps to take into account.

Choosing an obedience school for dogs is like that of picking the right school where to send your kids to. Of course, there are several dog schools that make up the list and what you must do is to narrow down your choices. It is important that you select the best one and researching will help you cast your decision.

The first step to take is to make a research. What are the best dog schools in your area? List them down.

Then, find out the feedbacks that clients have for those dog schools.

Ask around for referrals. Your friends or relatives may have already sent their pets to any of these dog obedience schools.

Call up the administrators. Find out the programs offered and inquire about some facts.

Of course, you need to visit the “campus” itself. See for yourself if there are proper sets of equipment and the likes. It is also the best chance to get to see if the trainers look reliable in handling your pet.

Talk to the trainers and ask around the methods that they use. Be sure to bring along your dog so it can have an immediate feel of the place. You may also see if he is comfortable with the trainer.

Your dog is not merely a guard but should be treated more like a companion. Thus, he needs the proper dog training so you will be more comfortable having him around you. Plus, you don’t have to worry about him hurting other people or animals. A well trained dog is a pleasant pet. So, choose the right dog obedience school for him now!

Finding The Right Animal Trainer Or Dog Obedience School Made Easy

Fact: Dog is man’s best friend. But, will you still consider your dog your best friend if it keeps on peeing everywhere, chewing on every furniture you have, eating more dog foods than the usual, and making a complete mess out of your room, garden, and home in general? It’s fun to have a dog to walk around, there’s no doubt about that.

But if your dog is not a well-trained one, chances are you’ll end up getting a new and friendlier pet. So, prior to getting a pet dog, be sure that you have idea about animal trainer and dog obedience school. And to make the task of finding the right animal trainer or dog training school for your pet, here are some tips to guide you.

First, you have to be keen when choosing a dog trainer or dog obedience school. With so many people promoting themselves as experts in the area of animal training nowadays, you could be easily deceived by one who claims to be the most reliable in this field. That is why, before you take on an animal trainer or dog school to help you turn your pet from naughty to well-trained, here are some factors that you should look out for:

1. The person or school’s reputation. To know this, you can ask around your neighbors or from your friends and colleagues who have already tried this kind of training for their pets. Or better yet, get recommendations from your veterinarian or from your local pet store because they know very well whom you can turn to when it comes to dog training.

2. Years of service/experience. Choosing between a new trainer or school and an experienced one, of course, any dog owner will always go for the latter. Why? Because longer years of service and experience mean that more people are satisfied with how they train dogs, thus they are there to stay. So before you hire a trainer or enrolll in a school, make sure that you know how long the trainer or the school has been doing dog training.

3. Sincere love and attachment to dogs. Of course, you want your pet to be handled by someone who is not only into training dogs but also shows compassion to these animals, right? That’s why, be sure to look out for this quality when looking for the right dog trainer.

4. Training tactics and handling skills. Many people can easily claim that they love dogs and that they know how to train them. But do they really know the tactics and have the skills to really train one? So, when hiring a dog trainer, make sure that he really has the skills in the area of dog training. Ask if he keeps himself up to date by attending dog training seminars, workshops, and classes.

If you find a dog trainer or a dog obedience school that satisfies the four things mentioned above, then you are on the right track of having a well-trained dog. See, finding the right one does not have to be that mind-boggling, right?

Dog Obedience Training Exercises: Developing A Well-Trained Dog

Have you seen the movie “Marley and Me”? If you have, then you’ve seen how annoying Marley can be. He’s the type of dog that any dog trainer will not be too happy to meet. He pees everywhere, chews on the living room set, and jumps on people. Actually, his owner, portrayed by Owen Wilson, even brought him to a dog training class to turn him into a well-trained dog. Unfortunately, the dog trainer easily gave up on him because he was the worst dog she had ever seen. He made a total chaos in the class, so he was not allowed to finish the course. That was kind of frustrating on the part of his owners. Now, if you have a dog like Marley, what will you do? Why not try these dog obedience training exercises to develop a well-trained dog?

Sit

You have to note that your dog must always sit at your left side with his shoulder at your left knee. To make him obey the sit command, you have to first fold the leash in your right hand. Then, call your dog’s name and command sit. Push down on his hindquarters using your left hand and jerk up on the leash with your hand. When he does the sitting position right, praise him and give him a treat.

Heeling on Leash

When walking your dog, his right shoulder should be about even with your left knee. Once the leash turns loose, simply call out your dog’s name and give the heel command. Walk forward as soon as you can and then give a hard jerk on the leash. Do not drag your dog when you do this. Once you jerked him into position, praise him with words like “Good boy!”

About Turn

When you turn away from your dog, do it to your right to reverse your direction. And as you do it, make sure that you keep your eyes on your dog and then give several short and quick jerks.

Stay

To make your dog stay where he is, command him to be in a sitting position. Afterwards, hold up your hand with the flat of your palm facing him, then tell him to stay. If he does, again give him praise but if not, put him back in position and start again.

Down

Just like in the stay command, you can make your dog obey the down command by putting him in a sitting position first. With him sitting, give the down command, then slowly push on his shoulders and wobble him off balance at the same time. But there’s another way to do this. You can also place the leash between your sole and shoe heel. Then, give the down command and pull up on the leash.

So these are just some of the dog obedience training exercises that you can do to develop a well-trained dog. At first, they may seem difficult. But once you tried them and see effective results, you will realize how rewarding these dog obedience exercises could be not only for your dog but also for you.

Dog Obedience Training: Being the Boss

Dogs are naturally pack animals. This means they need an alpha to lead them in their everyday lives, and this also means the owner must act alpha; that the dog should consider you as the boss for the obedience training to proceed smoothly. Individual dogs vary in submissiveness, and to establish and maintain dominance over your dog, there are a number of exercises you can establish. Do not worry; most dogs are happy to be submissive. Just be sure to show approval at the occasional signs of submission, and assert dominance if it tries to test you.

There are two components of training, one that solves behavioral problems, and there is that one that creates a command-response pattern. The latter type is called “Obedience Training”. However, both need one factor: A good Alpha.

In most cases, people misinterpret adolescent behavior as “dominance” when they are not. Comparing it to a human child testing her parents; she is trying to find out what the limits are rather than actually putting her parents in the little game called “Challenge Me” for leadership, a playful act. Young dogs and puppies do exactly the same. Which is, the trainer must correct them firmly, however don’t go into an all out dominating battle.

It would be very inappropriate for the dog to distrust you, which, in this case can result some sort of “rebellion”. For the toddler analogy, the most one can do is a sharp word, or a small spank on the rear end. You would not pick the child up, and hold her against the wall, then scream at her for the misdeed. Most dogs are still young until they are 2 or 3 years old (in human terms, they are still in the angst, teenage years). In Layman’s terms, do not confuse physical maturity with mental maturity.

As for punishments are concerned, never mistake it with being alpha. An alpha is fair, according to Cindy Moore, author of Behavior: Modifying and Understanding. An alpha leader is fair, and deserves its position. He/She does not use fear, punishment or brute force to achieve, and maintain its position. Instead, it makes it clear what behavior approves of and which it does not. An alpha leader expects its subordinates to follow its lead; it does not force them to do whatever it is. Meaning, the owner or trainer, in order for it to be a good leader, should be calm, focused, and rational.

Just like any other training, praising your pet boosts a lot of good egos. Always show approval at signs of submission. This helps strengthen your place as the ultimate alpha. Praise your dog when it drops its eyes first. Praise it when he licks your chin. Give it an enthusiastic tummy rub, when it rolls over in its back –as how Cindy placed it. It might sound corny, but it is corny because it works. Life is simple; you just need a bit of loving.

But to be an alpha at your best is to be consistent, and fair in your corrections. One must demonstrate to your pet that it can trust your orders. Do not correct your dog after the fact; such corrections to be arbitrary and unfair to the dog, since it has no associative memory the way people do.

Socializing with your puppy is a good way to gain its trust.

Dog Obedience On Come Or Recall Command

The arrival of a young dog is always an exciting moment for everyone in the family. Kids and adults alike take turns in playing and adoring him. The puppy is always fun to touch and play with and has the tendency to be the center of attention in the household. You have to realize though that his arrival means you have a lot of things to attend to.

At the same time, he has a lot of new things to learn in line with his behavior and following orders. Do you want your dog to be responsive when you call on him? Well, unfortunately, some dogs fall short on this. To make a change, be sure to have your pet properly trained on this. Dog obedience training educates your dog to respond to the come or recall command given to him.

The Significance of the Come or Recall Command

Among the dog obedience commands, the come or recall order is said to be the most basic yet most important. This has to be done while the dog is still young. When your pet is able to respond well when you execute this command, you can be sure that he can use it to steer himself away from danger or any kind of trouble.

The come or recall command is greatly associated with the safety reasons. First and foremost, you may be able to grant your dog more freedom without fear that he will get himself into troubles. Even if you lose sight of him you are confident that he will come back as you call on him.

The Training Itself

The main goal that you should achieve for this dog obedience come or recall command is to easily get your dog’s response. He should come around during your first two calls. His listening skills should therefore be sharpened so he will respond wherever he may be and whatever it is that he is busy with.

Undoubtedly, the process is a bit hard. A responsive dog is not that easy to achieve. Dogs are not as mature as other human beings so the training will include a lot of work on your part. There are even dog breeds that love to be chased after. Thus, you should be familiar with the right technique that you should apply depending on how your dog’s natural instincts work.

The real secret to this is to start the obedience training as early as possible and reinforce your command all the time.

The General Rules to Observe

To make things a lot manageable, here are some quick tips for you.

Your dog may not respond at once but never punish him when he comes. It will give him the impression that the same thing will always happen and it will be twice the challenge to call on him.

Don’t unleash him in public especially if he has not perfected responding to your command.

Exude a positive voice when saying the command. Your dog has to associate his coming to you with a positive thing.

The environment where you are in must reflect safety because your dog will not definitely come to you when he feels threatened.

Don’t confuse him with other commands when he has not yet mastered the first one.

So, there you go with the important insights that will keep things manageable as you do the dog obedience training on come or recall command.

Dog Obedience House Training – How To Go about It

House training is a very important phase in a dog’s life. It secures the tight bond and good relationship between the master and the dog. Experts advice that house training must start while the dog is young. In this sense, your pet’s misbehavior will be corrected at such an early time. Therefore, the sooner that you start with dog obedience house training, the better.

Here are the guidelines on how you should go about dog obedience house training.

Let him have his own space.

The untrained puppies or dogs should not be allowed wandering around the house without any supervision. You may not know it but your pet might already be chewing on things and worse, may get themselves injured or electrocuted. If you are at home, be sure to keep him in a place where you can see him easily. If there will be a time that he will be left alone, better place him in his den or crate. Put a bed of his own that can be made out of a box or towel, some toys, his water and food. Be sure to let him have his own playtime too so he can have enough exercise.

Introduce him to new areas.

After you have taught him how to behave in his own place, it is now time to introduce him to the other areas of your home. Be sure to spend time with him in that area. If you want to show him the new place where he can eat, do it under your supervision. Introduce the places and what he is allowed and disallowed to do in these areas. Do this by leashing him so as to control his reactions. Unleash him when you think he already has gotten himself familiar with the new areas. But, remember to keep watch or else he might get into trouble and cause further damages.

Potty train him.

Show him the area where he can do his thing. Make sure not to confuse him. Never allow him to play in that area or he might get the idea that he can use the same place for all his activities.

Let him understand the “No Chew” command.

By nature, dogs like to chew on things since it aids in the strengthening of their teeth and gums. It is also kind of a healthy exercise for their jaws. Part of your dog obedience house training is providing him with toys that he may chew on and let him understand that not all things can be used to strengthen his teeth and gums. Be stern as you give him the “no chew” command. Praise him when he has done the right thing and give him a reward.

Set off limits areas.

It is always important to keep your dog away from the rooms that contain pieces of furniture and where the electric lines are. Give him the “off” command and when he does follow it, pat him and praise him.

By and large, dog obedience house training will benefit you in the future. So, start early!

Dog Obedience Classes: What You Should Know

The dog is said to be man’s best friend. And so, being a best friend at that, the best thing that anyone can do for his/her pet is to take dog obedience classes. That’s right! If you happen to have a dog around, it is not enough that you feed it or give it a shelter at that. It is important that you have a direct communication with your dog so that you can make it follow whatever it is that you want it to do. However, making a dog obey is not as easy as you think. So the solution to that is to take dog obedience classes. Now, here are some important things that you should know before you enrolll in one.

How much does dog obedience class cost?

No doubt, this is one big question that you want to be answered first before you proceed taking any dog obedience class. If your dog is a high breed, buying it in the first place may have already cost you a lot; and the added expenses that come with it include daily dog food and veterinarian visits. So, you ask, “How much does a dog training cost and can my budget accommodate it?” The answer actually depends mainly on where you live.

If you are residing in a smaller city, chances are you can find a dog training class that will cost you about $150, not too expensive at that considering the benefits it will give you and your pet. Where to find one? Start by checking out your local community college. Often times, they offer dog obedience classes that last for 6-8 weeks. You can also check from your local newspaper, ask your veterinarian for suggestions, or inquire from local pet stores.

What you should expect from a dog obedience class?

Of course, any dog owner wants not only value for his/her money but also the best dog training possible. So, if you are seriously considering taking a dog training class, better have knowledge on what you can expect at the end of the course. For one, a dog obedience class can teach your dog to be more sociable. This is because other dog owners with their pets will be sharing the same class with you.

It will sure be lots of fun and will teach you a lot about the basic commands for your pet. Next, useful tips and other important information will also be given to fix your dog’s basic problems. Always remember that dogs that are not trained may bite others, fight with other dogs, pee everywhere inside the house, and chew on shoes, slippers, and even furniture. By attending a dog training class, you will be taught on how to help your pet behave.

Taking dog obedience classes can really benefit you and your pet a lot. And with those questions answered, for sure you have already come up with a decision whether to enrolll or not. But to be certain, better observe some classes first to see if they are the right ones for you and your dog.

Dog Obedience And Socialization

It is fun to keep a pet at home but it also calls for a couple of obligations to fulfill. Take note that what your dog does is always out of habit. Thus, if you tolerate his bad habits, he will not be able to outgrow them. It will be you who will suffer in the end. So, it is best to start early with the dog obedience lessons.

Puppies are but young and don’t have a mind of their own. They are simply dependent on you so it is your task to assist them let go of their bad habits and develop the good ones. You and your leadership skills will therefore guide your dog towards the right path in terms of honing his behavior, habits, and temperament. This is the main reason why dog obedience and socialization trainings are very much necessary.

Training Your Dog at Home

Separation anxiety often attacks young dogs. So, they normally cry, bark, chew, and do a lot of annoying things. You have to understand that it is also hard for him to adjust to his new environment. Thus, you should start with the house training activities by setting boundaries, introducing new areas, and letting him know those activities that you can tolerate and not.

Don’t be violent when your dog doesn’t seem to understand at once. Potty training, leash training, and the likes are never achieved overnight. You have to use lots of praises, rewards, and encouragement. It is always best to start as soon as possible so his old ways will be corrected. Incorporate fun sessions during the training. Use commands frequently. Whenever necessary, impose a punishment but not something that will agitate him and cause him to fight back. Say for example you didn’t like his behavior, simply ignore him. He will surely try getting your attention but be stern not until he does what he is told.

Leaning the Socialization Skills

The dog’s socialization period is said to fall in his first 16 weeks of puppyhood. It is the time when he develops into an adult dog. Therefore, you must expect that it is also the time frame when he changes his temperament, behavior, habits, and character. The socialization period is also the time that he gets adjusted to his family and the people in the household.

It is best to let him become familiar with the house and the people around. It helps to expose him to some animals too. This conditions him that it is not only him that exists in that area. Take him out for a walk so he will see what lies beyond the gates of your home. In this way, he will not go wild whenever he sees other objects, animals, and people apart from the members of his family.

During the dog obedience and socialization training, you should arm yourself with a doze of patience. Your pet lacks maturity so it is your own responsibility to handle the matter really well. He imitates what he sees so you better act accordingly.

Dog Obedience – A Guide To Behavior Training

Do you have a pet dog? Have you thought about getting him into dog obedience behavior training? You are wrong if you think it is a daunting task to get on with because contrary to what most people would say, the training itself is no rocket science and easy to administer. You can even do it by yourself. Doing so will heighten your bonding moments with your pet. All that it takes is an ample amount of time and effort on your part.

To make things easier for you, here is a quick guide to dog obedience behavior training. They apply to all breeds of dogs and whether they will be used in sporting, leisure, working, or for competitions. You need to know these principles and get them to work to ensure that your effort will pay off.

The Rule of Consistency

Consistency is one important thing to take note of during the entire training especially that you mean to correct the unwanted behaviors exhibited by your dog. To achieve consistency, be certain to employ the same commands for the tasks that you want your dog to perform. Don’t create the confusion in him by using an entirely different command for the same nature of task you require of him.

Also, establish house rules that your dog will fully be aware of. Soon you will see that he will do as you say without difficulty.

The Need for Proper Timing

Timing is indeed critical. It determines whether the training will be successful or not. Always give him praises whenever he has done something right. Reprimand him for the wrong ones. This will let him understand those behaviors that you like and dislike. You have two options for reprimanding. First, correct him right on the spot. Second, ignore him when he approaches you. This will let him realize that his behavior is unacceptable.

Giving the Adequate Dose of Attention

Like humans, dogs also seek attention and they love it. The only problem is that they are somewhat incapable of discerning which the positive is and which one is the negative attention. What they only understand is that when they are able to elicit reaction and attention from people, they will do the same things repeatedly.

As the owner, you should not yield to your dog when he is exhibiting bad behavior. Don’t let him out of his crate whenever he groans or run after him when he picks up your socks. When you do so, he will think that it is positive attention and is sure to repeat the same behavior.

So, what you must do is to only direct your attention to him whenever he behaves properly. Give him treats as the prize for good behavior.

Be in the Mood

It is important that you set your mind on the task. Dog obedience behavior training requires too much patience so it is best to have that frame of mind. Never ever proceed with the training sessions when you are drugged, drunk, or in a bad mood.

Dog obedience is a training that your pet must undergo. So, take note of these guidelines!

Can Speaking And Singing Stop A Nuisance Barker?

How do you stop a nuisance barker? Easy: Teach them how to “speak” and “sing”. This might be more interesting for bothersome humans, but just way cuter for canines. All types of dogs, may it be size or breed, can be easily taught to speak. The way for it to go is to call your dog, show him a treat (which never disappoints), and say “Speak”.

The dog might probably not understand what you are trying to make him do, and probably would dart on the treat, jumps, and will eye it intently at first. Finally, he will sit down, gets impatient, and then utters a sharp bark which is what you have been waiting for, and for that instant when he does so, reward him with a treat.

Not all dogs love to bark. Just like humans, some are aggressive, and some are just plainly shy. For these types of dogs, they can be encouraged to do so by imitating a bark. Chances are, he will reply to it. Reward him, a never-disappointing deed of all time, then he will learn to bark as soon as he hears the word “speak”. Now, after the dogs have been taught to bark once, you can teach him a series of barks. This way, you can make him expect to be rewarded, which encourages him to bark more until you give him a stop signal, which can lead to a full phrase, or whichever you want him to do.

Other than being social beings, dogs are very observant. By the time you signal your pet to stop at the slightest point, your friends won’t detect the magic trick, such as subtle movements of hands and feet; a wink or a shift of your gaze, and if you keep up with these tricks, you might be firing up an interesting series of barks that can sound as if your pet is having a conversation. You can address him as if he was a human being to keep his performance appealing, impressive, and very perplexing.

Demonstrating the latter, if you are exhibiting your dog to an audience, and might want him to “speak”, you would like to be a bit more creative like asking him a question. That way, you can probably be in a very good business as to have a “talking dog”. Either way, that is much better than pestering barks in the neighborhood.

Now that your dog can now “speak”, you can now teach him how to “sing”. Try making him imitate a series of whines and howls to a certain degree, reaching the pitch, and the style of noise you desire. As your pet learns how to follow you, say “sing” automatically to associate the desired action. With constant practice, a dog can and will learn to follow your turn quite accurately. Do not forget to praise and treat him plentifully for encouragement. Exercise the activity on a regular basis.

By this type of training, not only have you got rid of a nuisance dog, you have disciplined your pet vigorously, making him understand that barking and whining is only allowed in command. And now, for the humans.