Dog Behavior Training is Achievable

When you get a new dog you are going to want to make sure that you go through a dog behavior training program so that he obeys all the commands that you give him. There is nothing worse than when you go to someone's house and they have a poorly trained dog that won't stop barking and jumps all over you. A poorly trained dog can cause damage to your home, and can be a real pain to keep up with. You need to make sure that you teach your dog certain commands so that he listens to you and does not destroy your house.

There are many different things that you can include in your dog behavior training program. At the basic level you will want to teach him to sit down on your command, come to you on command, stay where he is, go to his bed, and many others. Of course there are many higher commands that you can also teach your dog if you are willing to put in the effort and work.

Make no mistake about it you will certainly need to put in plenty of effort in order to be successful in your dog behavior training efforts. It is certainly not going to be an easy job, and you need to make sure that you are willing to commit enough time and effort in order to train your pet. Most simple tasks that you will train him to do shouldn't be too difficult, depending on the breed of dog. However if you are looking to train him in more complicated tasks, you will certainly need to put in even more time and energy.

Another option is to bring them to a professional trainer that can establish a training program for you. There are a couple of different ways that you can go about this. Some trainers offer group classes where several people bring their dogs at the same time and you learn different techniques that you can further develop on your own. If you go with this method it is important that your dog get along with others. It would be very embarrassing to get expelled from class for fighting at a school for dogs.

Jay J. Whoods raises and trains German Shepherds. To see his dogs or to get free training tips go to Jackgermanshepherds.com. Check out Jays' Dog Blog for more info.

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The Best Way to Stop a Dog From Chewing

Lacking dexterity in their paws, dogs and other animals make a lot higher use of their teeth than we do. Unfortunately, they can also be used in a destructive manner and many dog owners need to deal with the problem of stopping their own dog from chewing on furnishings, walls and many other household fittings and things. So what is the best way to stop your dog from chewing?

Why Do Dogs Chew In The First Place?

There are lots of motives why dogs may possibly chew. First of all, it is common for puppies to chew. At first this may be to help their milk teeth become dislodged. Later they are going to chew for exploratory and learning purposes.

Dogs also chew to relieve strain and anxiety or sometimes just for pleasure. Dogs which might be left alone might chew to relieve boredom or in anticipation of their own owner returning home. This could be even more pronounced in the breeds that have to have significant activity. A few dogs also chew for attention - this is particularly likely if your own reactions to chewing have not been correct. Rarely, a dog may chew if they have a poor eating habits that will not contain enough calcium.

The correct way To Stop Your Dog From Chewing

The very first thing to do is to give your dog quite a few objects that he is allowed to chew. You should give your dog three or four objects which are diverse in size, shape and texture. Also, give your dog some praise when they do chew the things that you have provided them. This is positive reinforcement of "correct" chewing.

You should also remove valuable things that you don't want destroyed. If your return house to find your dog has destroyed your 50 year old teddy bear that was left out inside the open then you have only yourself to blame!

If there is a problem, furniture and other objects can be coated with a paste product that makes them unpleasant to chew on. Put this on a piece of duct tape on the spot where the animal has chewed in the past. Like most animals, just one taste and he will steer well clear of that spot the next time and pick out something else to chew on, hopefully the objects you have especially given him for this purpose!

If you do catch your dog about to chew a thing it shouldn't then a firm "no" is all that's wanted. If you find out that your dog has chewed on something he shouldn't have an hour ago or earlier then don't reprimand him because you may only confuse him.

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Dog Spray Collars Stop Nuisance Barking

A citronella based dog spray collar is an effective and humane way to control nuisance dog barking. Even though we know that almost all dogs are going to bark, not all people are dog lovers. Of course this is not usually a problem with dog owners, but it can be a big problem if the noise bothers your neighbors. Did you know that most municipalities have noise ordinances that includes dog barking? You can be fined or possibly have your dog taken away from you if you can not control it's barking. For cases like this, a dog spray collar can save the day for you, your dog, and help you keep the peace with the neighborhood. In many cases, nuisance barking can be reduced or eliminated quite easily and quickly by using this type of collar.

There are different types of canine barking, and different causes for each. There is normal barking, where dogs will get excited about people, food, or other dogs, for example. This type of barking is reasonable and expected, and is easily defensible when it is put against almost any municipal code.

Some dogs will bark for attention because they are hungry, or just want some time with you. Ways to eliminate this type or barking is to make sure your dog is well watered, fed regularly, and has plenty of exercise.

Frustration barking is what a dog spray collar is most useful in stopping. Dogs that are penned up for long periods of time can easily become bored and get focused on people, other animals, and noises on the other side. When this happens there will be times when children or adults will try to stop the dog barking by threatening it. Most of the time this just make the problem worse, and the bog barks louder and longer and becomes a nuisance. One way to try and eliminate frustration barking is to kennel your dog inside, or in a secluded part of the yard that does not have a view to other backyards or the sidewalk. If this does not work you will have to consider using a dog spray collar to stop your dog from nuisance barking.

The citronella dog spray collar is probably the easiest and most effective way to reduce or eliminate nuisance and frustration barking. As your dog barks, the device shoots a stream of citronella spray right in front of the dog's nose. The dog is annoyed by this mist, and learns behavior modification by association. Your dog learns that it must be quiet and not bark if it wants to keep the spray out of it's nose. The citronella is considered an essential oil, and is supposed to have a calming effect on dogs. The collar also makes a hissing sound when it is activated, which the dog also finds annoying and wants to avoid. Test have shown that nearly all dogs learn this smell and sound association of the collar very fast and stop barking very quickly. Some academic studies have demonstrated that a dog spray collar is twice as effective as shock collar. Not to mention, you will be treating your dog in a much more human way by not suing a shock collar.

If your dog is a persistent nuisance barker, you need to look into the safe and humane way to control this by using a dog spray collar.

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Dog Safety - Common Dangerous Household Items to Avoid

If you're a dog owner then you're well aware of the fact that dogs are curious creatures and love to explore, especially when it comes to new surroundings. Often times their nose will get the best of them and they will try to eat just about anything that smells good, or doesn't smell good, which can be very dangerous depending on what the item is. Here are some common household items that can be harmful to your dog if eaten:

Chocolate, which just about everyone loves, is not a very good choice when it comes to dog treats and can be harmful to your dog's health because it has a very dangerous chemical called obromine. This is toxic to your dog so you should avoid letting them have chocolate at all cost.

Another common household item which is very dangerous to dogs and also toxic is bleach. You'll want to make sure that you keep bleach out of reach at all times.

Tylenol can be very lethal to your dog, even a small dosage, and should not be left laying around where they can get at it.

We often use batteries for many electronic items including watches, remotes, flashlights, and so on and if your dog gets a hold of one and eats it, the result could be a terrible stomach ulceration which could be fatal if severe enough.

If you have moth balls stored in certain areas of your house to help get rid of bats, or for whatever reasons, you'll want to take caution and not allow your dog to get a hold of these since they have insecticides in them that can cause issues to the central nervous system and also can cause seizures in dogs.

Another item that is very dangerous to your dogs health is antifreeze, which is responsible for the death of many dogs every year. The reason it is so dangerous is because dog's are often fooled by the sweet smell and taste of this substance which lures them into consuming it. Any antifreeze spilled should be cleaned up immediately.

You'll also want to make sure that your laundry detergents and fabric softeners are stored where your dog cannot get at them. Laundry detergents are another item that if consumed, can be dangerous to your dogs health. Fabric softeners are also toxic and should be kept away at all times as well.

Mouthwash is another common household item that should be kept away from dogs since it may contain boric acid which if consumed by dogs, can cause symptoms such as vomiting, seizures, and coma.

All of these items are common household items that can be dangerous to your dog's health in one way or another so it's important to remember that if you have any of these items in your home, you'll want to be sure they are out of your dog's reach. This will prevent the chance of them being consumed by your dog, and will help keep your dog safe and happy.

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Dog Aggression - How to Stop Your Dog From Attacking Other Dogs

You need to understand that your dog completely believes he is the leader and when you are out walking he is protecting you. What you need to teach him is that YOU are the Alpha, not him. You have to make him understand that it is not his job to protect you on his walk. Here are some methods to change his behavior.

Start With Basic Training

This training can help your dog learn to understand that it's OK to have other dogs around him and you. Start training him now and do a little bit every day in a mixture of circumstances. Make sure you begin the training in a place that is familiar to him so he can relax and not get distracted. Once you've done some training in familiar areas you can move on to other environments and distractions.

Do not move on until you have completed at least 5-10 minutes of "sit-stay" and then 5-10 minutes of "down-stay". The first 3 steps must not have any other dogs or people present...including other family.

1. First you start inside your home with his leash ON. Make him "sit" and then tell him to "stay". After about 10 minutes, start teaching him "down-stay".

2. When step #1 is finished, go outside making sure you still have his leash ON. (repeat the two commands)

3. Now while you are still outside, take his leash OFF. (repeat the two commands again)

You Must Avoid Other Dogs Until You Have Mastered Steps 1-3

You may now gradually introduce other dogs and people to your surroundings. However, first try to socialize him with dogs that have more of a calm and easy going temperament. This will ease him into it.

4. Go outside with your dog's leash ON, do the two commands. (other dogs and people present)

5. Now do the same command with his leash OFF. (other dogs and people present)

If you are not completely sure he is ready to meet with other dogs and people, you should put a muzzle on him for the first few times to get a feel of how he reacts. If he tries fighting again, you need to go back and start over.

How To Gradually Introduce Your Dog to Other Dogs

Obviously this is going to be a gradual process so please have patience. When you take him out for the first time after his training, introduce your dog from a distance. When he sees the other dog, make him sit-stay and watch his reaction carefully. As the other person with their dog approaches you, try to have him focus on YOU and not the other dog. If he makes a move from the "sit" position, have the other person back away.

Use a Gentle Leader Leash

It might be a good idea to use a Gentle Leader type of leash so you have more control over your dog while he is in training. This leash goes over his nose and his head. You lead him from his nose and it does not harm your dog in any way.

Be Careful Not To Reinforce Your Dog's Bad Behavior

Make sure you hold a slack leash at all times. If you tighten your dog's leash when you see a strange dog, you will make him very tense and his aggression level will increase. Speak to him in a happy and very calm voice.

When your dogs learns to ignore the strange dog, make sure you reward him with a treat. Practice this as often as possible.

Read Up On Alpha Dogs and What It Means

You should find as much information on Alpha dogs as possible. This will help you understand why your dog acts the way he does. It is his instinct and unless he is trained to know YOU are the Alpha, he will continue his bad behavior.

I sincerely hope this article was helpful to you. If you would like more information on any dog needs whether it's natural/organic nutrition, dog training, tuff dog toys, dog gifts, allergy kits, flea control and more, please visit http://www.TailWaggingSolutions.blogspot.com While you are there you can enjoy reading "Just For Doggie Laughs" and "Putter's Doggie Tips for the Week". Here's to loving your dog.