Everybody wants a well trained dog. Let me ask you, are you willing to dedicate several blocks of your time everyday to specifically teach your dog obedience tricks? Do you have a vast reservoir of patience you can draw from when your puppies decide to leave you for every moving thing they see around them? Can researching the net for tips and acquiring dog training DVDs be a priority so you can continuously have education materials on hand for your dog? If so, great! You are the best person to teach your pet. If not, then in home dog training with a professional is the next best thing to get for your dog.

Homeschooling your pet presents great benefits for the owner and dog alike. More than anything, it frees you to use your time elsewhere without losing essential training opportunities your dog needs. Having the sessions done at home will let you see your dog as much as you like. You will be updated on his lessons and enjoy seeing your pet’s development happening right before your eyes. And if you are around often, your pet will be familiar enough with you so your special bond will not be broken.

If you are decided on this course of action, the alpha and omega of the success of your dog training will be finding the right trainer. The way to find a reliable trainer is from recommendations of family and friends. These are people whose opinions you trust and who want the best for you. Definitely as in home dog training continues to grow in popularity; you will have people within you and your family’s circles who know an equipped and highly capable expert.

Determine if you want individual classes or group classes with your dog. While one-on-one training gets your dog the undivided attention and priority of his teacher- enrolling in a group class is a good alternative. The latter sessions will teach your dogs important socialization skills and healthy interplay of his own kind. Preferably, find a group whose owners you know takes excellent care of their pets. Infection, sicknesses, parasites, and such are transferrable conditions that need to be avoided at all costs.

Every dog needs even the most basic of training. Because he deserves the best, reserve an appointment and schedule a plan with that professional trainer as soon as possible. In home dog training may cost money, but the value of a well trained and happy dog far exceeds its value.

Better yet, find the best resource for training your dog in your home yourself – and here it is! – Click here.

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Dogs can cost an owner a pretty penny to be trained in a proper dog school. The rent for the use of their establishment, specialty trade tools, certified trainers and prestige some academies peg on their services makes up most of the added expense. Fortunately, there is another alternative to having a professionally trained dog sans the often times exorbitant fee – a dog training DVD.

With dog training DVDs you don’t have to worry about rates and additional fees. You buy the DVD and Voila! your very own professional trainer right in your living room. The only cost you have to worry about is the product itself—and maybe a higher laundry bill from all the hands-on training you will be doing.

There are so many instructional DVDs out in the market today, choose the title that would best service your doggie training needs. Determine what you want to teach your pet. Videos that educate the owner how to effectively train canine basic obedience commands should be a priority to the freshman dog. When successfully completed, you can then carry on to the next level of training.

The best way to buy these DVDs is through surfing the internet. Research on some of the better animal trainers in the country and check if he has some resources that are available in Amazon or his own website. You want the most effective teaching and inside information you can get your hands on, find the expert who can give it to you. Many of these “professionals" are expert self-promoters so verify their claims by searching feedback on blogs and sites.

Specialty dog websites are reliable and helpful sources of these products. Their endorsement usually ensures that you are getting your money’s worth by purchasing the DVD. Of course, they have a percentage for sales generated, but they will not risk some dollars earned on bad or mediocre training videos. Take advantage of special offers and promotional discounts these sites offer for the products that you need.

Dog training is one of the best gifts you can ever give to your pets. Obedient and trained dog are more confident and happier animals. Besides that, imagine how much more you can do together. You and your dog will enjoy open communication and mutual trust that will result in a fruitful and satisfying relationship. Professional animal training needn’t be expensive and inconvenient – with dog training DVDs, a much improved version of your fury friend is just a click away.

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3. Simplified Puppy Training Tips Uncovered

Anyone who has ever brought home a puppy knows that the best days are yet to come. Sure puppies are among the most adorable creatures ever. But watching them learn and discover the world is what makes them so precious to us.

In their growing up and learning years, it is important that you instill them with correct practices and proper behavior early on. House training a puppy is simultaneously frustrating and fun. Regardless, you have to be there and teach them. Here are some puppy training tips that will help make your job a lot easier.

It’s so easy to spoil the puppy fur balls. Let them get away with the mischievous little tricks that are just so cute. What harm could it do right? Wrong. You have to set yourself as their master early on. Don’t let them get away with bad behavior at any time. You can play with them but be firm and authoritative when the need arises. Once they submit to your leadership, training them will be much simpler.

To train effectively you must open communications that your dog will understand and obey. More often than not it’s not the dog’s stubbornness that makes him not follow you, it’s his confusion on what you really mean. Use the same word or phrase every time. If you use “Sit!” don’t use “Down, boy!” anymore. Be repetitive in your obedience training.

Puppies understand the language of praise. If you want him to distinctly remember a certain behavior, praise him enthusiastically during the actual act. He will associate the favorable sensation of being commended with that particular act. He will strive to gain more praise and repeat it.

On the other hand, it is permissible to discipline your dog by admonishing him sharply for wrong conduct. You can use spray guns to squirt water to rebuke him but never hit him. Hitting your puppy will result in fearful and aggressive dogs that will not be good around people.

Socialization is especially effective when practiced regularly until the puppy is about 3 months of age. He will grow up to be a friendly and well rounded dog, able to interact with humans and canines alike. Take him to places where there are a lot of people. Let him play with other dogs you know are clean and healthy. Let him get accustomed to strange objects to dogs like vacuum cleaners, cars, other animals. When he ages, he is less likely to be intimidated and fearful of things and people.

With these puppy training tips, expect a confident and well-adjusted dog in a few years. It is an enjoyable and rewarding past time to house train a puppy as long as you do it right.

For more tips on house training a puppy and other puppy training tips, click here.

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Let’s face it, dogs are in no way stupid, if they were then no one would want them as pets. Sometimes though, dog owners do not give their pet enough credit because just as we can teach them to learn voice commands, they can also learn body language. When you use body language along with spoken commands, training a dog is made much simpler.

One example is that of an overly excited dog who often jumps on any visitor that enters your home. All puppies go through this phase and while most do get rig of it, some others will continue these actions well into adulthood. Every time that a guest makes their way into your home, the puppy will become easily excited regardless of whether they are there to play with the puppy or not.

The puppy wants to know what the guest has to offer them, they want to know if the guest has any treats or even if the person wants to play with them and the easiest way for them to determine this is to simply jump all over anyone who enters the house.

As a result, you start giving the dog a series of commands, even ones that you have never taught the puppy. Every time as your tone becomes firmer and firmer and harsher, so too does the dog become ever more excited. This becomes a vicious and chaotic circle that never ceases until either you throw the dog outside, or the guest leaves.

When you grab the dog and raise your voice, the dog takes this as playing and the more that you do it, the more that he or she becomes excited.

In order to better communicate with your dogs, here are some simple tips.

Instead of joining in on the game and making the puppy more excited, you need to take a moment and look at how you approach the situation. How you approach the dog is body language and the dog interpret’s it much differently than you or I would.

1) When your puppy is doing something that you are not liking, refrain yourself from chasing the puppy around the house and yelling at him or her. While you may interpret this as anger, the dog will see it as you wanting to play right along with them and join in on the game.

2) It is important to remember that you always need to show dominance over the dog, instead of yelling, stand upright and puff out your chest in order to give yourself a larger silhouette and in a very firm voice, reprimand the puppy. The goal is to intimidate, but not to scare the puppy.

3) Remember that while the dog is excited, virtually anything you do can be interpreted as play. Never move quickly and using a smooth toned voice, talk to the dog. The ultimate goal is to show the puppy the behavior you would like him or her to have and make it a game for them; see who can stay the most relaxed.

Your Dog Supplies Store offers blowout sales on many dog supplies such as dog beds, clothing, accessories and more. Save up to 87% right now!

For more dog training tips – click here.

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- Guidance and Leadership are What Dogs Need

Naturally speaking, a dog is an instinctual pack animal. A dog prefers the pack and although they are a territorial animal, think along the lines of a necessary partnership with regards to certain aspects of their daily life. This can often be seen when you watch a dog sled team which works together in a pack to accomplish a common goal. You have the lead dog along with a series of followers, and in your house hold, you are the lead dog that will guide your best friend just like you would for your children.

Any winning team though requires the input, and training, of all members of the team. Just like the saying goes that there is not “I” in teamwork, your dog needs you and you also need him. These are the winning characteristics of a family unit for which your dog is now a member of and it is up to you to ensure that he or she follows the rules of the pack in order to survive.

Both dogs as well as puppies need leadership and guidance if they want to be an efficient member of the family pack and it is you who is responsible for this task as well as making sure that the dog feels as if it belongs and is a loved and needed part of the family unit. Regardless as to whether you or your partner is the leader in the household, what truly matters is that there is a leader to help guide the entire pack.

Even when you have a number of people living in your home, your dog will soon learn the natural hierarchy of your family unit and will fall in line in the unit. This is a natural instinct of theirs that they have kept throughout many generations of domestication. While dog training can certainly assist with keeping the hierarchy, instinct comes first.

The biggest issue for dogs is the lack of rules in the pack

By remembering that dogs are pack animals and that they belong in a pack which has a natural hierarchy, you can see why without rules, the dog can begin to develop problems. Having rules are important, you are the leader of the pack and as such you have to be strong willed and a good leader. If you fail to offer rules and leadership, the dog will feel as if you are not a worthy leader and will begin to act out in a means of challenging for leadership of the pack.

Your Dog Supplies Store offers you high quality dog supplies at very affordable prices. We have weekly blowout sales that are sold at drastically reduced prices. Visit our online pet shop today!

And for more on positive reinforcement training and dog behavior training generally, click here.

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If you are looking for an activity that your dog will enjoy, while learning something constructive at the same time, then consider enrolling your family dog into agility training classes. Dog agility training is also very satisfying for the owners themselves, as we get to watch our lovable canines run through obstacles, balance their way around agility props, and participate in team events.

What To Expect From Dog Agility Training

Dog agility training will not only have your pet becoming physically healthier, but also sharpening his mental skills by learning to negotiate many obstacles that include tunnel walks, A-frames, teeters, tires, the classic table and closed chute, measured jumps, weave poles, and standard dog walks.

Once your dog has learned these obstacles to a suitable level (as per the instructor's requirements), the handler will then move the learning process up to team-negotiating. This is where your dog will have a chance to enjoy agility trials, in which a judge will present several courses for your dog to take part in. The handlers will take a personal tour through the course ahead of time, while strategically planning how they will manage their dogs through the trial successfully.

What Are The Requirements To Enroll Your Dog Into Dog Agility Training?

Dog agility training is an amazing way for your pet to become an avid sports dog, no matter what size and shape he may be. Entering agility competitions is not necessary, nor is it a requirement, but many families just enjoy watching their dogs receive these advanced training sessions.

Standard requirements for dog agility training may vary slightly from school to school, however, it is very common that the enrollment only accepts dogs from the age of approximately 8 months and older. If your dog is smaller in size, or a miniature breed, then be sure to ask the dog agility training school if they offer separate classes for small dogs only. Most reputable agility training centers will offer both small dog classes in addition to an all-size class.

Agility Training Class Levels

Dog agility training schools will typically have several skill levels. Newcomers to agility work will start at the basic, introduction class. During this period your dog will be introduced to the agility equipment, as mentioned previously, which will include tunnels, weave poles, jumps, chutes, and tires.

The next level up from the  beginner dog training agility class will generally be the intermediate class. Only dogs that have successfully been acquainted with the equipment from the beginner lessons will be allowed to enroll here. The animals will learn how to work the courses, practice sequencing the various obstacles, and become accustomed to the handlers, all before entering dog agility training competitions (should you have the desire to see your dog compete).

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In the following article, Adam provides advice on methods of defending yourself against an aggressive dog that may be about to attack you.  Some of these methods seem to contradict common understanding on how to deal with aggressive dogs.  Many dog experts are of the view that you should never look directly at a dog, and that to do so may well cause the dog to attack you.

One of Adam Katz's suggestions is the reverse of this, although he's probably referring to specific types of circumstances, and he may also be directing this advice to an audience who understand dog training methods and dog psychology, which he does refer to in his article.

Take his comments on board, but don't ignore any advice you may have heard about never looking at an aggressive dog.

Here's the article:

How to Defend Yourself Against a Dog Attack

My name is Adam Katz. For [approximately] seven years, I owned a company called South Bay K-9 Academy. I currently own the web site: Dogproblems.com. And I am the author of the widely acclaimed book, "Secrets of a Professional Dog Trainer!"

Here are the facts about defending yourself against a dog attack.

If the dog is a trained personal protection or police dog and it is a good specimen: You have no chance. All of this nonsense about kicking the dog at the right time is baloney. Your best chance of surviving is to stand absolutely still. If you are unarmed, and you try to fight the dog, you will lose. The dog is fast enough to bite you two or three times before you even realize where you've been bit. And by then… it's over.

Anyone who does not believe me can contact me, and we will outfit you with a padded suit and you can give it your best shot. You cannot outrun a dog. Even a big, heavy slow dog like as a Rottweiler.

If the dog is not a professionally trained dog, you may be able to intimidate the dog with forward-leaning body language and moving directly in towards the dog, making direct eye contact. However, make sure that the dog has an easy way to turn and escape. If he feels cornered, you're in big trouble. (This technique relies on using the dog's psychology.) [Although this technique will work very often, there is still a good chance that you may get bit. Better to stay still and call for help, or back away slowly until you can get to an object that will help separate you from the dog.]  It is a myth that a well trained dog is taught to bite and hold on to one arm. A good dog that is taught to bite the arm will also be taught to release the first arm and bite the other arm when it comes close to his face.

If you are in possession of a weapon, there are other strategies which should be employed. But I'll save that for a later discussion.

Disclaimer:  No guarantee is stated or implied in this article and if you follow any of the advice in it, you do so at your own risk. If you ever feel that you, your dog, or others are at risk because of your dog, please seek the services of a professional dog trainer.

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But don't be alarmed, the article is for people with disabilities and explains how they can AVOID being scammed. The long and the short of the message is if you're disabled and you have a service dog, you do NOT need to hand over ANY cash to a so-called registration company for service dogs. Service dogs do NOT need to be registered.

Here's Norm's informative article containing your protections under the Americans With Disabilities Act:

I'm often asked how you register or certify your service dog, the answer is "You Don't". Companies that claim to register or certify your animal without training are simply taking advantage of the handicapped to make a dollar. In 1990 the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) went into effect which gives handicapped persons with service animals legal protection to be accompanied by the animal in public places.

Understanding the ADA

So lets first define what a service animal is, According to the ADA, an animal is considered a service animal" if it has been "individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability." As you see, the word certify or registered doesn't appear in the law. As a matter fact the US government does not register, certify, license or approve any animal.

The ADA Catch 22

Because the definition of a disability is so broad it would be impossible for the government to create any sort of testing criteria other then the vague definition above. Also, since many disabled people live on fixed incomes requiring professional animal training would be an added financial burden that many disabled people could not afford. Unlike a person with a handicap license plate or ID, there is no official identification and service dogs without some form of ID are often assumed to be pets. The ADA also states that a handicapped person is not required to show proof of their disability. So that's what the law says, but the reality is that having your service animal identified with an ID, vest, cape or bandanna helps identify the dog as a working partner and not a pet.

The Registration Scam

It wasn't long after the ADA went into effect that companies started popping up offering to register or certify your animal. Now please understand that we are not talking about trainers that teach dogs to perform tasks for the disabled. What we are talking about are companies that use official sounding names that in exchange for your money will certify or register your service dog. In exchange they often provide you with a registration number, certificate, patch and maybe a cheap laminated tag. Some shameless companies charge as much as $250 for "registration".

So What's a Service Dog Owner to do?

First, make sure you meet the definition of a disabled person and that your dog is specially trained to perform tasks related to your disability. Trying to pass off your pet as a service animal is a federal offense and comes with severe penalties. Outside of the two requirements spelled out in the ADA you don't have to do anything. If you feel identifying your service dog will make your life easier then purchase a quality photo service dog tag, vest with patches or a cape.

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Here are some useful free dog training tips that will make their dinnertime a little easier for you to deal with. Do your dogs jump all over you at feeding time? Do they sometimes knock the food dish out of your hands and slurp up the resulting mess?

We used to have something like that happen to us, then we spoke to a fellow who spoke fluent dog. He set us straight and gave us some free dog training tips that really make the dinner thing a lot easier to deal with.

As you know, dogs are pack animals. In the wild when the pack takes down an animal the alpha dogs (or wolves) eat first, then the rest get their turn. Besides getting the choice bits, this also allows the alpha dog to get his (or her) saliva all over the meat.

The other dogs or wolves then get their share, but with the alpha dog’s taste already there. This helps establish the alpha dog’s position.

Free dog training tip #1 then, is to spit into you dog’s food before you give it to him. This helps to establish you as the alpha dog and makes the rest of your training a bit easier. We got quite the look from our dog the first time we did that. It helped to control that #115 pound Rottweiler.

Free dog training tip #2 is to have your dogs do a “down, stay” while you prepare their food and put it down. Have them maintain the stay for several seconds before giving them the release word. Again, this helps establish you as the boss dog.

Free dog training tip #3, which may not work for certain dogs, or puppies, is to feed them once per day. If they haven’t eaten it within a few minutes you remove the dishes, clean up, and they can wait until the next day. This helps to establish a routine, as well as your dominance, and helps to ensure that the dogs will actually eat their dinner.

Keep in mind that dogs in the wild might go several days without eating. Then, when they do get to eat, the food has the top dog’s saliva all over it. The dogs learn their place that way.

You can find a lot of free dog training tips all over the web, but these have worked well for us and the guy who gave them to us teaches the same tips to all of his clients. Dog feeding tips like these may seem a bit odd, but they work well and they work within the dog’s natural behavior.

Give them a try for at least a week and you might just find your dogs to be a little easier to control.

Dogs? In World of Warcraft? Sortof. Hunters can tame wolves and use them for various purposes. To help train their wolves they use the Hunter Canine Pet Treats that you can find in the World of Warcraft Cookbook.

For further dog training tips (not free, but at a great price), click here.

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Puppy crate training in these few easy to follow steps will soon become a habit that both you and your puppy will enjoy on a daily basis.

When starting out with puppy crate training it is a good idea to place their favorite toy inside the crate.

Next, walk away for a few seconds, and listen carefully if he or she is quiet. Return initially after about 10 seconds, and praise your puppy for doing so well. Have a dog treat available for the extra praise.  Lengthen the period each time you do this, to a few minutes, and eventually for a few hours at a time. Your puppy will soon realize you are going to return. Of course, he or she will expect some praise and maybe a treat if you start puppy crate training your puppy with a treat reward.

When you crate training a puppy in this way your puppy will soon figure out there is a reward for staying in the crate quietly.

After your puppy has gotten used to the routine, you will be able to cut back on, and then cut out, the treats.

Puppy crate training is not difficult, as long as you are consistent. Consistency while crate training a puppy you will reach your puppy much faster than if you put your puppy in the crate only some of the time but leave him/her out of the crate at other times.  Once your puppy realizes you will return every time he/she goes in the crate, he/she will soon go into the crate without you even having to give the command to do so.

Naturally, you should always make sure your puppy has access to water and food while being in his or her crate for the day, or even an hour or two while your puppy is young.

In addition, when you have been away for a couple of hours, or for the day when your puppy gets older, do expect that your puppy will have to use the bathroom immediately after you arrive home.
For more tips on crate training your puppy, you can't go past the excellent dog training resource Sit, Stay, Fetch – it covers every aspect of dog training you'll ever need.

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