When you first bring home your puppy he may be excited or frightened by the new surroundings. Of course you’ll want to cuddle and play and get to know each other. But it’s important not to allow the puppy to chew on your fingers or bite you. If you let the puppy think it’s OK to do so now then it will just be harder to break him of it when he gets older.

Here are some puppy training tip you might find useful.

Some people like to begin their puppy training with a dog crate. This is because it’s unlikely that the puppy will willingly soil his immediate area. This technique of housebreaking a dog is only effective though when the puppy is old enough to control his bladder and bowels.

Another method of housebreaking is to show the dog to the door when he begins to sniff around. Keep at it and he’ll make the connection sooner than you might think.

Puppies do love to chew so it’s a good idea to provide a few toys to chew on while teething. Dogs respond better to reward than to punishment. So if pup starts chewing on furniture legs or ripping up the couch, stop him immediately with a stern no. Then take him to his designated area and offer him a chew toy. When he begins to chew on one of these, praise him for doing so. This will reinforce in his mind which things are his and which things are off-limits.

To prevent dog fights in the future it’s important to introduce your puppy to other dogs as soon as possible. Training your puppy now on how to get along will save frustration later on. Just make sure that neither dog is allowed to establish dominance. That place is reserved for humans.

Barking and whining are hard habits to control in a dog. Of course it would be completely unfair to expect your dog to never bark. But you can train him to bark only when it’s appropriate to do so. When is it ok for a dog to bark?

1. When he’s frightened. People scream or cry and a dog will naturally bark.

2. When he’s happy to see you he may bark a little out of excitement.

3. When someone enters your property or knocks on the door. Praise him for doing his job of guarding your home and family but don’t allow the barking to persist. It may be necessary to put him in another room or in his crate.

4. It’s only natural for dogs around the neighborhood to communicate with one another. That doesn’t mean though that you have to allow your puppy to bark all night long. If you’re training your puppy to be an outside dog you may want to put him in the garage at night.

Puppy training can be challenging yet fun. There are times when your puppy will test his limits and try your patience. But if you keep your cool and a positive outlook, the dog will pick up on your attitude towards training and begin to look forward to spending this time with you.

Every one of us will always love our puppies, primarily when they are being cute and also perfectly behaved. We as well adore these animals even when they act out in bad ways, with bad habits. These kinds of annoying habits, however, might be based on our standards of how we think they should behave.

In the mind of the puppies, they are only acting much like a dog would, imagine that!

But a good way to keep your home a secure and calm place to enjoy, they need to figure out how to behave within the human world, and it is your responsibility as the puppy owner to make that happen.

By using sufficient and practical dog training techniques, almost any puppy can learn how to stop these types of objectionable habits including the ones discussed on the following paragraphs:

The Nipping Habit:

Nipping throughout playtime will be normal for more or less all puppies, primarily if they get excited. Yet, despite how cute any puppy looks or how harmless it may seem to be, nipping is a unfavorable and dangerous habit that should be ceased quickly. Each puppy dog has to learn that, even in play, his teeth shouldn’t contact human skin.

Curbing this behavior now would certainly lower the chances of your pup growing up and biting another person in the future.

The moment your new puppy begins to nip, convert this biting habit into a focused image on his or her playthings, instead of your hands. Provide toys which are tempting to your puppies mouth such as rubber toys that are chewable, spefically those that will have dog goodies inside or the capability to re-load new treats.

In addition suppy soft, multicolored plushtoys that can peak his or her attention.

You should not have to wait for your puppy dog to be older so that you can start to train. Actually, puppies as new as 8 weeks will be able figure out and understand that nipping isn’t permitted. If he or she commences to bite in the course of play, tell him or her “NO” or “OUCH” and back away for a short period of time.

In the event he or she starts to bite again, wander away, visit a separate room and shut the door. But remember, don’t allow the puppy to be on it’s own for any longer than 1 minute. Walking away and leaving your pup, in addition to going to another room with the door closed, teaches him that biting hard will make the “good time” and entertainment go away.

The puppy will ultimately figure out how to restrain the pressure of the nipping. As soon as he or she learns to nip lightly, elevate the bar and say “OUCH” or “NO” once again when the mild bites occurs until your puppy learns to quit entirely.

The Chewing Habit: Another infuriating habit which frustrates puppy owners is undoubtedly when these cute little animals chew on our favorite stuff, especially those brand new expensive shoes. Understand that puppies come with an insatiable urge to chew, mostly in order to soothe their own aching gums when they go through their own teething stage.

It might seem to you to be cruel to stop your new puppy from trying to soothe his pain. However, you should certainly refocus his or her chewing habit to their toys rather than your shoes or boots, clothing, books, and so on.

Always have numerous toys available for them to gnaw on. Get the pup accustomed to chewing on these types of toys by placing them close to him constantly while he’s still young. Ensure that you place these toys in the confined place together with any puppy so that he or she doesn’t concentrate his attention on some other things lying around at home.

When you notice him or her chewing on items they are not supposed to have, say “NO CHEW” in a firm tone and immediately substitute the forbidden object with his or her chew toy. Always, always reward him or her any time he or she starts to chew on the toy.

Don’t hold back the praise. The more, the better!

1: Like I said earlier, the dog will try to be the boss of the house. It’s in their nature to do this. You have to set an example and show that you, in fact, is the dominant one. If your dog is taking your seat on the couch or maybe destroying things in the house, then it probably isn’t because he’s a bad dog or doesn’t love you. It’s most likely because he feel as if he owns the house because nobody has shown him the opposite.

2: A dog needs to explore its surroundings and get exercise. Some people loves their dogs, but doesn’t like walking with them. This will become a problem. Dogs need to go out in fresh air, mark their territory and exercise. If you’re not a fan of walking, tie the collar of your dog to your bike and let him drag you. This is free horsepower and is enjoyable for both you and your dog.

3: Dogs need love too. Cuddling or playing with your dog makes the dog feel loved. And like us, when your dog feel loved it will act more respectful against you. A dog that doesn’t get any attention will probably act out more than a dog that gets the attention it needs.

4: Try to interpret the signs your dog is sending. Not only does a dog need attention, but it also need for you to understand it needs. Being understood makes a huge difference in any social creatures life. Just think about how frustrating it is when you try to get a point across to someone and they have no idea of what you’re really talking about.

5: The dog isn’t human. Dogs are dogs and unfortunately (or fortunately) they are not smart enough to always understand what you are trying to make them do, or not do. Therefore it’s important that you try to associate rules with different sounds, actions or other forms of expression. Dogs are great learners and it is a known fact that dogs are able to do tricks and simple gestures.

Also if you want to know more on how to train your dog I advice you to go online and find some guides on how to do this the best way.

So just follow these easy steps and you might see a difference in your dogs behavior

http://www.squidoo.com/5waystotrainyourdog

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Aksel_Hundstuen

Whatever equipment you use with your dog, do check it regularly. Check:
• for wear and tear.
• that it still fits correctly. This is especially important with growing puppies.
• for signs of chewing, which could weaken it.

Essential equipment for all dogs:
• A normal collar with either a buckle or clip. It should not have any tightening action, such as a choke or half-check chain.
• A lead. A lead of 4-6 foot is ideal. If it is shorter than this, you may find that your dog will pull more, as he cannot get away from the tight feeling. If it is longer, it can be difficult to control your dog. Most people prefer nylon, leather or canvas leads. Chain can be used, but this can be very uncomfortable.
• Some form of poop scoop is also essential each time you take your dog out.

Alternative equipment:
Head collars work on a similar principle to a horse’s head collar, in that they control the head. They are extremely useful with dogs that pull, jump up at passers-by and are more difficult to control. It will not teach your dog how to behave, but it will make it easier to control him while you are teaching. Many dogs are not impressed at first and may scratch and shake their heads. Take your time and introduce it gradually, following the manufacturer’s guidelines.

Harnesses are favoured by many people when walking their dogs. It means that if the dog does pull, it will not hurt his neck. However, many dogs can pull more strongly with a harness, and dogs who are required to pull, for example, sled dogs and tracking dogs, would wear a harness for this purpose.

For dogs who pull, there are relatively new types of harness available. They are designed to help while teaching a dog not to pull. They work by putting pressure in a different place when the dog pulls, and therefore he cannot lean into it as he does with a collar. An extending or retractable lead consists of a box which you hold, with a line that extends as your dog pulls. There is a brake to stop. These are useful when you are in a situation where your dog can have more freedom, but cannot safely be off his lead. Please be careful – if they are used near traffic, dogs can still be involved in accidents.

A long line, or old washing line, can be useful when your dog can have some freedom but is not safe off the lead, or when teaching a dog to come when called. Some people find it difficult to use as the excess lead can get tangled. Take care with big or strong dogs – consider wearing gloves to avoid rope burn on your hands. It may be beneficial to use under guidance from an experienced trainer.

Poop-scoop, plastic bag etc. Never leave home without these. Even if you don’t need them for your dog, you may be able to donate one to another owner!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andy_J_Jones

Throughout his entire life, if you are ever having difficulties, come back to this basic principle. Can you get your dog’s attention? If not, you are likely to experience some difficulties in that situation.

Therefore, we will work through:

1. What are you teaching? You to teach your dog that when you his name, it means ‘look at me, something interesting is going to happen’.

2. Begin in a relatively quiet environment, free from distractions. Find a quiet place.

3. Show your dog a piece of really interesting food. Have some treats in a small pot or in a pocket, out of your dog’s reach, holding only one piece in your hand at any time.

4. Use this as a lure to show your dog what you want. Find ways to encourage him to do it himself, Your dog should now be looking at you. Well done, he has already been successful.

5. Immediately your dog does as you want, reward him with the food and a fuss. Reward him.

6. At this stage, do not give your dog any words of command.

7. Repeat several times, until your dog is performing the action reliably. Then begin to say your word as the dog is doing the action, Begin to say his name before rewarding him.

8. Show your dog the treat and say your word. Reward him. No lures are necessary, just repeat several times.

9. Progress until you can say the word and your dog will repeat the action without following your hand. This should be easy to achieve.

10. Start varying the rewards. Use a different or less interesting reward sometimes; at other times, have the treat in your hand but give him only a fuss and praise as reward, as soon as he does what you ask. Continue to practice.

11. Gradually and randomly vary and decrease the rewards given. This means that your dog does not know when or with what he will be rewarded, He needs to respond to find out. Your dog should be confident that his name means ‘look at me to find out what nice things we are going to do together’.

12. Progress to repeating this sequence in different places, with an increasing number of distractions, This is where it becomes more difficult, but it is so important. Practise in many different situations. These will include:

In the house:
• with no distractions
• when a visitor has been here for a little while
• when a visitor first arrives
• when the doorbell rings

On a walk:
• with no distractions
• with a person or dog in the distance
• with a person or dog nearby
• when greeting a person or dog
• In the car
• In the garden

If you find that your dog cannot look at you when you ask, it is unlikely he will be able to do anything else for you. Always go back to this simple premise, which you taught your puppy right from the start.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andy_J_Jones

It’s widely accepted among the vast majority of dog training experts that the most effective and humane way to train your dog is through a process called positive reinforcement training. This is a fancy phrase for what’s essentially a very simple theory:

Ignoring behavior you don’t want your dog to repeat and lavishly rewarding the behavior you do, is the basses to positive reinforcement training. This method is the direct opposite of the once popular way of training dogs, ways that would be considered very cruel in today’s standers, such as using shock collars of cattle prods of corrective tools.

It is your dogs natural instinct to please you, positive reinforcement lessons are more meaningful and tend to last longer in a dogs mind, when a dog learns what you are asking of it under its own actions (your dog sits, you say,”sit”, nice “sit” and reward, as opposed to forcing your dog to sit).

When you use positive reinforcement training, you are giving your dog time and the chance to use its own brain. Some ways you can use this training process:

- You need meaningful rewards. Dogs can get tired of the pat on the head and a “good boy”. ( many dogs don’t take kindly to a pat on the head.)

- Have you ever seen a dog bark or cower a way when a hand come toward their head? To keep a high standard and quality in your dogs learning use more tempting incentives for the desired behavior. A favorite food or treat gives your dog much more incentive. Also know as “primary incentives.”

- In other words, they’re both significant rewards that most dogs respond powerfully and reliably to.

Things you may want to read

Hopefully this article has given you a small insight into the power of positive reinforcement dog training. There is a great deal of information on this subject and suggest you learn as many techniques as possible if you want your dog training to be effective.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Matthew_Closson

So, how can your dog speak to you without saying a word? Unless you are Dr. Doolittle, the barks are just noise, but how he moves when he barks is the clue.

• Wagging the tail – When your dog is happily wagging his tail and his tongue, he is in a playful mood. He may even lower the front of his body to the floor and raise his little hind end in the air. He is probably full of energy and ready for play time.

• Ears standing up – Something has caught his attention. He may stop wagging his tail and even lean his head to the side to pay closer attention to whatever is catching his eye. This is not necessarily a call to alarm, but that he has found something new.

• Bearing his teeth – This is considered a show of aggression. He may do this with strangers or when confronting an animal that he feels threatened by or that may be threatening you.

• Lying on the ground with tail down when he greets you – This is a way of greeting you that shows loyalty also. When you walk into the house, your canine companion may lower himself on the ground. This pose is also referred to as an “active submission.” He doesn’t feel threatened or fearful. It is an act of friendship, realizing that you are the boss and a friend.

Now, your dog makes other noises besides barking. Barking can have many meanings in itself, so we are going to talk about other sounds that your dog may make that you kind of want to be aware of.

• Growling – Your dog shouldn’t be growling at you, but he may growl at strangers. It could also be in response to his sensing that you are uncomfortable with someone. If your dog does growl at you when you take something away from him, it could be a play for the alpha position.

• Whining – This is such a cute gesture. Unfortunately it can also be annoying if you are trying to get him to do something that he doesn’t particularly want to do, like go to the vet. In these times, ignoring the whine lets him know that it won’t get him out of doing his duty. Whining can also accompany their show of loyalty and greeting.

Are any of these gestures and sounds familiar? If they are, now you can communicate with your dog more effectively. You can “speak” his language.

Now, we have all heard terrible stories about the perils of housebreaking a puppy. Sure, you may get frustrated every once in a while but do your best not to let it get in the way of your primary goal – keeping puppy from pooing and peeing all over the house. When it comes to being consistent, this is where many dog owners have troubles.

What exactly does this mean? Well, when you take puppy outside to do his business, take the same route, use the same commands and praise him when he starts to go and when he finishes. Some owners like to stand indoors, especially when it is raining or very cold. The problem with that method is that a puppy might associate going to the bathroom with being left outside alone. This can set you up to find smelly “presents” all over the house. Your dog will either use the bathroom in his crate or elsewhere so he doesn’t have to go outdoors.

Experts give a little formula for trying to housebreak your puppy. The number of hours that a puppy should be able to go without using the bathroom is equal to their age (in months) plus one. A three-month old puppy should be able to last four hours at a stretch.

Take puppy outdoors to use the bathroom: when he wakes, every hour or so throughout the day and at night. Keep him on the leash so you won’t have to chase him if he gets distracted by any activity outside. Choose a command word that will mean “it is time to go to the bathroom.” When puppy chooses his spot, use that command in a gentle voice until he begins to urinate. Some dogs will poop afterwards so keep repeating the command until he is done with that too. Then, praise him for his great work.

There will be accidents, but use them as teaching tools to teach puppy what not to do. Catch him in the act if you can. Disciplining a puppy when you find their “package” will confuse them. They will think that they are in trouble for whatever they are doing at the moment instead of something they did twenty minutes ago.

If you catch puppy in the act, your voice command will usually stop him in the middle. If you can catch him urinating, you’ll avoid getting a bigger mess. Pick him up and take him out to the bathroom spot. Use the bathroom command to hopefully get him to finish his business. Then, praise him like normal.

Housebreaking can be both rewarding and nerve-wracking. But, once puppy gets the hang of things you can breathe a bit easier.

If you are the proud owner of a new puppy or dog, there are a few things that you need to know. It is important for dog owners to know that part of the training will fall on them. You are the puppy’s new family so they need to interact and get comfortable with you. Most of all, they need to hear commands given in your voice.

The purpose of a dog trainer is to help supplement what you have done, big or small. Maybe you have only gotten through training your puppy to follow your basic commands: sit, stay, down, hush, go and the like. For many families, potty training is the biggest ordeal. Everything after that doesn’t seem as hard.

Choosing a Trainer

Now on to the professional trainer you want. All dog trainers, like every other thing in the world, are not created equal. It’s going to be important to evaluate your trainers before exposing your dog to them. You don’t want a bad experience to traumatize your newest family member.

• Credentials – Check to see how many dogs they have trained and how long they have been in business. Ask about their training practices and vaccination requirements. You can check the Better Business Bureau to see if any dog owners have lodged complaints.

• Demeanor – Are they friendly to owners and their dogs? A friendly trainer is more likely to be a patient trainer. Dogs require a lot of patience during training. You don’t want someone who will yell at your dog or use unorthodox methods to get them to obey.

• Use a Clear Voice for Instructions – A good trainer can teach you many things. For one, they can show you how to speak your commands to get puppy to comply. Speaking out of anger will only make the situation worse (especially when potty training or crate training). As an owner, you need to be able to understand the instructions they are giving to the dogs so you can mimic it.

• Demonstrations – Dogs are not the only ones who need to be trained. As owners, you will want to visually see and follow what the trainer does so you can get the hang of the exercise. Trainers who demonstrate in class can help you if you have trouble.

You don’t have to handle puppy alone. Hiring a dog trainer can help advance your dog’s training schedule and lower your stress level.

Before you begin, get it in your mind that crate training is not barbaric. Without training of any kind, your puppy will grow into a wildly undisciplined dog. It may be cute as a two-month old pup but it will get old really quick when you have to apologize for his behavior.

Dogs also require repetition in order to learn. They will get what you are trying to teach them eventually, but you have to be quite methodical in the beginning. Familiarity also makes them feel comfortable and safe in their new home.

The Crate

Choosing the right crate to use is important. There are wire ones and plastic ones. Wire crates work well for dogs with long hair and in warm climates. It allows for adequate ventilation so puppy stays comfortable.

Plastic crates are good for travel and in cooler climates. It stays warm and keeps puppy secure in the car, train or plane.

One thing that all crate trainers need to remember is that size does matter. A crate need only be big enough for your puppy to turn around and stretch. Partitions made of wood or plastic can reduce the size of big crates if you want to take into account puppy’s eventual adult size. If you give puppy more room than that, he will use the bathroom in there instead of outdoors.

Training

Dogs love to be around people. Begin by placing your crate in the family room or other area where your family spends most of their time together. Using a wire crate at this time allows puppy to see his surroundings.

Introduce your puppy to the crate. He may not go in there by himself so he’ll need an incentive. Use chewy dog treats to lure him in for a closer look. Let the aroma waft just a few inches in front of him. When he is within spitting distance, place the treat in the crate. Praise him every time he goes in.

You can also feed puppy in the crate. This encourages him to stay inside and is easier cleanup for you. Close the door behind him. Open the door when he is almost done eating. If he comes out close the door again. Open it only if he wants to be let back in to finish eating.

When he is used to being inside give him more incentive for staying in the crate with the door closed. Use a chew toy to entice him in the crate. Close the door for no more than a couple of minutes each time. Call him to come to you when the door is open. Let him return and repeat the process again until he is comfortable with the door closed.

Crate training keeps puppy safe when you are not at home and still lets him interact with the family.