For me there is no contest. I once said to someone who was busy cooking their dog’s next meal that I didn’t think wild dogs had learned to cook their food in the bush. They were trying to do the right thing, I know. But the all raw diet is the closest to what a dog would eat in the wild.

What is the all Raw Dog Food Diet?

Canned and dry dog food is equivalent to takeaway food for humans. The all raw diet is extremely easy to feed and is cost-effective too. You can make it yourself. At home, in your own kitchen. And, believe it or not, it need only take around half an hour to make a week or two’s worth of nutritious healthy raw food for your pet.

Watch this video

The all raw diet has meat, chicken, fish, vegetables, fruits and supplements like kelp, and wheat germ and flaxseed oil. And raw meaty bones, and chicken and turkey wings. Never, ever, ever feed cooked bones. They splinter and can cause internal damage.

What is in the Processed Diet?

Pet food manufacturers use filler foods such as soy, rice, wheat, and other grains that are difficult for a dog to digest.  Much of what they use is full of chemicals that cause allergies and other problems that can make your pet’s life miserable. Too many commercial pet foods have been recalled in recent times to give consumers enough confidence that these foods are good for their beloved pets. But you can take control of that with minimal effort and cost.

How to Feed the All Raw Dog Food Diet

Use a mix of meats – minced or diced kangaroo, beef, chicken and offal.  Vegetables and fruits to use are carrots, zucchinis, spinach, garlic, capsicum, apples, pears, garlic. There are others; get on the internet and do some research. There is plenty of information out there.

Also use eggs, baked beans, raw oats (not instant porridge), yoghurt (make sure it is an all natural yoghurt).  And raw meaty bones. I use kangaroo necks or tails but if you can’t get these use beef necks or something similar. You want a bone that is soft and will not splinter. Also feed turkey wings (not the drumsticks) and chicken wings.

Also add supplements like kelp, flaxseed, sunflower and wheat germ oil to make sure your dog gets the best diet possible.

If you take a little time in the kitchen to put all this together, you can make individual patties out of the mix and freeze them so it makes life easier. Really, while this may take a little more time than opening a tin or a packet, you will find your dog’s health will improve which means less visits to the vet.

Dalmatians

The Dalmatian dog is a non-sporting dog breed that loves lots of love and attention from their family. Some people consider these dogs to be high maintenance as they are thin-skinned and extreme heat and cold affects them.  While Dalmatians love to be with you they are not necessarily cuddly dogs or likely to curl up on the couch.

These dogs need a lot of time and training, and can be good with children if they are trained to be around them. While these dogs have a short coat they do shed a lot of hair most of the year.

Watch this video
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=p_GYE0gg56A

Something to consider when thinking about choosing a dog breed like a Dalmatian, is that around 10 percent of them are born deaf or partly deaf. Deafness is a prevalent issue in the breed and a dog that is deaf, or going deaf, takes a very special owner to love and care for them. A dog that is deaf or partially deaf is not a good dog to have in a family home. This is because they can be frightened easily, and frightened dogs bite and ask questions later. Dalmatian dogs are very protective of their home and family and need to spend a lot of time with their pack.

Bichon Frise

The Bichon Frise dog is social, affectionate and very spirited. This dog breed is a non-sporting breed and is very easy to train. These gorgeous dogs have a thick curly coat that needs regular grooming to keep it in good condition. These little dogs are great with children and love being with their family. They do not require high levels of exercise as long as they have good play sessions daily.

This dog breed is suitable for people with small yards or those who live in a unit. These dogs do need professional grooming once month so you may want to factor this cost in when considering a Bichon Frise as your next pet. The Bichon Frise does not shed much hair and are ideal for those who don’t like dog hair everywhere.

Chihuahua

The Chihuahua dog breed falls into the toy group of dogs. These dogs often are referred to as having ‘small man syndrome’. They truly do not realize just how small they are. They have spunk and are sometimes aggressive.

They are tiny and physically fragile and do not need a lot of exercise. A good play session daily is all they need.

This dog breed is not suitable for large families or families with very young children, and they tend to not like a lot of people coming and going from their home. Because the Chihuahua is fragile physically, it is quite easy for young children to hurt them and the Chihuahua will bite.

This breed of dog bonds very strongly with their pack leader and is a good dog breed for someone who is quiet and where they can be your constant companion. Chihuahua’s live up to 20 years so be prepared to have this little dog join you for the long-term.

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Halti head collars can be ideal for getting back control when walking your pup or dog. The halti dog collar will not only prevent Buster from choking himself but will save you wrenching your shoulder on a daily basis.

Would a halti training collar suit you?

A halti head collar is ideal for these types of dog owners:

* any dog owners who have less strength, determination, or body weight than their dog.
* any dog owner concerned with injuring their dog by flicking a standard training dog leash.
* any dog owners with joint conditions, poor balance, or who are physically limited with conventional dog leash training.
* any dog owner who does not walk their dog daily, or who is inconsistent with their dog walk training.

Benefits of a Halti Head Collar:

* these styles of training collars allow dogs to still act like dogs. Buster can still participate in activities such as panting, barking, carrying tennis balls and sticks, yawning, eating and drinking
* over-excitability can be physically contained.
* leash training becomes easier.
* Buster is no longer able to choke himself with over enthusiasm.
* your dog can no longer drag you down the street.
* halti head collars can be fixed to prevent Buster from biting.
* halti dog collars come in a variety of sizes.
* owner maintains control over the dog.

Considerations When Selecting a Halti Training Collar:

* although these collars are made from long lasting nylon, they are not totally chew proof.
* to prevent whiplash style spinal injuries occurring to your dog it is important to not allow Buster to run right flat out to the end of the leash.
* halti head collars are not designed to be left on your dog without human supervision. There is a small chance that the collar could get caught on an object, seriously injuring your dog. The collar should always be removed when the walk is over.
* these styles of training collars are not designed for yanking. A gentle pull is all that is required to keep Buster headed along the right path.
* Halti head collars will only work when fitted correctly. An improperly fitted collar will be uncomfortable and could cause injury to your dog.
* a correctly fitted halti collar will be snug fitting, and self adjusting, allowing only 1 finger under the collar behind the ears. Your dog’s eyes will be at  least 1/2 inch away from the nose portion of the training halter.
* if your dog is a Houdini then you will probably need the additional halti link which joins the usual collar to the halti collar to ensure your dog does not literally slip the halti collar off.

Training with a Halti Collar:

* generally, puppies will adjust fastest to a a halti had collar, but with a little patience over a few weeks, even the oldest dog can be taught new training techniques.
* it is best off to start slowly with the collar. Pop the collar on and play with Buster for a couple of minutes. Extend the periods of play until Buster is used to the collar and is associating it with pleasant times. Once Buster has become accustomed to the collar then you can attach the leash. Once you have mastered walking around the yard it is time to head around the block.
* ensure that Buster receives plenty of praise, rewards, and treats while he is behaving with his halti collar on.
* never, ever, allow Buster to paw the collar off. If he is looking uncomfortable or looking like contemplating dragging it off, distract him quickly and then remove the collar yourself. If Buster figures out he can paw it off you will be in trouble.
* ensure the collar is not overly loose before embarking on your training or Buster may well remove it himself.
* halti collars work off the premise that dogs like to walk with their heads facing straight ahead. A simple pull on the collar will have the head facing in the direction you want him to go, giving you back control.

Conclusion.

The kind and friendly Halti collar
is perfect for the dog owner who has problems controlling an overly enthusiastic or a very strong dog. Halti head collars prevent dogs from choking on their leashes and also stop owners from being dragged around on the daily walk. Halti dog collars allow dog owners to maintain control of their dogs in a very simple and gentle manner. You can read more on the Halti collar
and decide if this popular and more gentle lead is for you.

Finding the right dog for you and your family is not hard. Consider your lifestyle and how a dog will fit into your life. Look at all the different kinds of breeds and consider their traits and inherent instincts. A herding dog is not usually well suited to suburban backyard unless you give it lots exercise and attention. On the other hand there is no point getting a Chihuahua if you have an active lifestyle.

Here are some profiles of working type dog breeds to help you make your choice.

Labrador Retrievers

Labradors are naturally athletic, intelligent, high energy and need a lot of exercise and training. They are from the sporting group of dogs and were originally bred to retrieve – balls, sticks, birds.

If you leave your Labrador alone too long they tend to develop destructive behavior such as digging, chewing and continuous barking. A Labrador is a people dog and wants to be with its pack. They want to be inside with you when you are home.

If you do not have time to exercise your Labrador every day, and you don’t want your dog in the house, then may be a Labrador is the wrong dog breed for you.

A Labrador loves to play and roll in smelly stuff for extra perfume. While they have short coats they shed hair everywhere and love to sleep in your bed with you at night. These dogs are best suited to active families and individuals who will make their dog a part of their family. Labrador dogs tend to not grow out of their puppy stage until they are 2 years old and may not suit families with very young children. Not because they will intentionally harm anyone. It is just the exuberance of the Labrador dog may send everything in its path flying.

German Shepherds

German shepherds were bred to be guard dogs and are part of the herding dog group. German shepherds are fearless, intelligent and loyal, and make wonderful family pets and excellent working dogs. German shepherd dogs are a large dog breed that needs lots of exercise and good size backyard to live in.

Buying a dog like this is not for someone who is shy and retiring. German shepherds need strong pack leaders and are a great dog for someone with an active lifestyle. German shepherds are also couch potatoes and love nothing more than being wherever their pack is at the end of a long day.

It is important that you be strong and assertive with your German shepherd or else they will end up bossing you around. Some obedience training and early socialization is also important for this wonderful dog breed.

Border Collies

Border collies are another dog breed from the herding group. These dogs have a strong herding instinct and will round up almost anything – even you. Border collies need to work and exercise every day. If they get bored they get into all sorts of trouble and, because they are master problem solvers, this can cause anything from incessant barking to escaping from the yard.

Border collies are not a good choice for families with children, as they may scare and nip at small children when they try to round them up. Border collies are incredibly smart. So, if you are going to get a dog from this breed you want to be smarter than them or you just may find yourself running after your border collie rather than the other way around.

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It does not matter who you are or what circumstances you live in, as long as you give your dog exercise, discipline and love there is a dog breed to suit you. Do some research into the breeds you like before buying a puppy and ask yourself a few questions like:

• Can you afford a dog? Can you afford the ongoing costs of vet bills, food and regular worming?
• How much time a day do you have to spend with your new best friend? Dogs are social animals and need to spend a lot of time with their pack leader – you.  If you don’t have a lot of time then may be a dog of any sort is not the best pet for you.
• What size dog do you want and why? Remember, cute puppies grow into adult dogs.
• Does your dog need to keep up with an active lifestyle? Or will your dog enjoy the relaxed life with regular walks and outings?

Buying a Puppy is a Serious Business

I know you are excited at the prospect of buying a puppy and bringing it home to share your life. But – do not just go out and buy the first puppy you see.

Make sure you know the background of the puppy; the history of the parents’ health. Temperament is another important thing. You need to decide what type of puppy will best fit into your lifestyle. Flat out and boisterous; or quieter and more focused on you.

Best Places to look for your new Puppy or Dog

It depends on what you are looking for on where you will find the best dog for you. Look online in your area, ring your local breed clubs for recommended puppy breeders, and check out your local dog rescue and humane society to see what dogs and puppies need new homes. Then there are the newspaper advertisements that have dogs and puppies for sale locally.

When you visit the puppies check out the environment they have been brought up in. Look at the parents if you can. This gives a good indication at a puppy’s early socialization. Poor conditions may indicate problems.

If you adopt a dog or puppy from a shelter you are saving a life. All dogs in legitimate shelters are temperament and health tested. Only those puppies and dogs that pass stringent tests and guidelines are offered for rehoming to the public. Consider it a privilege to save a life with the extra bonus of knowing that expert dog handlers have assessed your dog and know how to match your needs with a suitable dog or puppy.

Where not to Buy your new Puppy or Dog

Pet shops are the worst place to buy a puppy or a dog. There are a lot of reasons for this, and this includes you do not know what you are really buying. So often I hear stories about people being sold a small breed dog that turns out to be as big, if not bigger, than my German shepherds.

Pet shops are usually supplied by puppy mills where dogs and puppies are bred and kept in the most appalling conditions. It is tempting to save these little creatures. The problem with this is that it only supports the dog mills to keep mass producing puppies. They do not care about health, conditions or who or what breeds with who or what. They are poorly fed and would be lucky to ever see a vet. If you buy one of these puppies then you support the cruelty of puppy mills. And, you have no guarantees about the health of the dog, and often even the breed.

The most important thing when looking for that new best friend to join your family is that a puppy is for its lifetime – not just a short time. If you are a good pack leader to your dog you will spend many wonderful years together enjoying each other’s company.

Before you decide what puppy to buy, do your research and get all the dog breed information you can. There are pure bred dogs, designer dogs and cross-bred dogs. Look at your lifestyle and see what type of dog suits you.

Sporting Dog Breeds

Sporting dogs make fantastic active, companions and were originally bred to retrieve birds to help their master while hunting. They love to retrieve so they love to play ball and make great family members. Retrievers, spaniels, pointers and setters fall into the sporting dog group. They need daily exercise to avoid them becoming destructive and noisy because they are bored.

Watch this video
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=8QjAXDrbpZ0

Hounds were bred to hunt and there are scent, sight and large game hounds. Sight hounds like the greyhound and Irish wolfhound are truly wonderful, gentle pets. A scent hound like a beagle or blood hound walks around with their noses to the ground. They are sweet, loving companions but it can be stubborn if they are following a scent trail. A large game hound like a Rhodesian ridgeback was bred to hunt large game such as lions. They are fearless protective dogs that make good companions.

Working Dog Breeds

These dogs were bred to work for us. These breeds are intelligent and quick to learn and work in jobs from rescue to guarding. Most are very large dog breeds like the sled dogs (Siberian husky); or dogs bred to pull large loads (Bernese mountain dog); guard dogs (Akita and Rottweiler); and rescue dogs (Newfoundland and Saint Bernard).

Herding Dog Breeds

These dogs were born to herd and are agile, alert, are great to train and are loving pets. They need lots of exercise and are excellent sporting dogs for agility and dog obedience. Their natural instinct will see them round up their family if they do not get enough exercise. The German shepherd, Cardigan and Welsh corgis, Australian shepherd and border collies are herding dog breeds.

Non-sporting Dog Breeds

These dogs were originally working dogs and have now become loyal companions. There are many breeds in this group and they come in all shapes, sizes, personalities and temperaments. Some of the dog breeds include the French bulldog, poodle, keeshond and chow chow.

Terrier Dog Breeds

These dogs are determined and bred to hunt vermin or fight. Those bred to hunt vermin are lively and independent and include the Jack Russell terrier. Terriers need some basic training or they may become barkers or chewers. The fighting terrier dog breeds include the Staffordshire terrier. These dogs must have a good level of training and socialization or they may become a possible danger to other animals and people.

Toy Breed Group

These breeds are playful, small, devoted, and demand your attention. They tend to be lap dogs and need less exercise than the larger dog breeds. They can be a good choice for people who do not have big yards or for those who are getting older. Among the toy breeds are the Chihuahua, toy poodle, Pekinese, Maltese and pug.

Buying a puppy dog is a long-term commitment so make sure you know exactly what time you have to spend with your new dog. Make sure you get a dog breed that fits into your lifestyle.

Dog breeds susceptible to hip dysplasia.

Although it is possible for any dog to have hip dysplasia, there is no doubt that large and giant sized dogs are the breeds most genetically susceptible.

These include:
* Labradors and golden retrievers.
* Rottweilers.
* Saint Bernards.
* German shepherds.
* Great Danes.
* Dobermans.
* Mastiffs.

Interestingly enough, even though the disease is more prevalent in pure bred dogs, mixed breed dogs can suffer from hip dysplasia as well. Two dog breeds that are famous for having a much lower incidence of canine dysplasia are Borzois and Greyhounds.

Symptoms of hip dysplasia in dogs.

It can be terribly easy to assume that your dog is just starting to get old, but if your Rover starts showing any of the following signs it is probably a great idea to get him checked over by the vet. It is also important to note that hip dysplasia can show up in puppies as young as 5 months. Obviously the younger dogs will need careful monitoring to ensure that the hip dysplasia does not become severe canine arthritis while the dog is still young.

The following are all signs of hip dysplasia:
* early morning stiffness.
* unusual or stiff gait.
* reluctance or difficulty with steps.
* reluctance or refusal to jump in the car.
* change in personality.
* unable to sustain usual walking distance.
* not so keen to retrieve anymore.
* has taken to sleeping away from family members, or disappearing.
* problems in getting up from lying or sitting.
* favoring one or both rear legs.
* displays distress at having rear leg extended.
* displays sensitivity or pain with pressure over lower spine or hips.

Minimizing Canine Hip Arthritis.

Your dog may be susceptible to hip dysplasia, but research has proven that the severity of the disease can be dramatically reduced by practicing many of the following:

* Exercise. Exercise has been shown to be effective in helping to reduce the severity of arthritis in the hips of dogs with hip dysplasia. Regular exercise not only helps to keep the pounds down, but will also keep your dog’s muscle mass up. It would appear that dogs with strong muscle mass around their lower backs and hips seem to suffer less than dogs with weaker muscles.

* Weight management. The link between canine arthritis and obesity is well established. The more excess pounds your dog has to lug around, the more stressed his hips are becoming and the worse his arthritis will be. This does not mean you have to starve your dog, but you are ultimately responsible for how much pain and suffering your dog will go through. Ignore the pleading eyes and feed your dog responsibly.

* Check ups. Having a regular visit to the vet can ensure that your dog can start receiving early treatments if he needs it. By the time your dog starts displaying symptoms to you he is already in pain. Your vet will also be able to ensure that your dog is in a healthy weight range.

Treatments for dog arthritis.

Once Rover has been diagnosed with hip dysplasia or canine arthritis, all is not lost. There are many treatments, supplements, and aids that you can utilize to ensure that he is still having a good and comfortable quality of life.

* Water exercise. For those dog breeds who love the water, like the Labradors and Golden Retrievers, water exercise can be a win-win situation. Your dog is able to continue exercising, maintaining muscle mass, and burning up calories, while participating in an enjoyable activity. Not only that, the water will act as a buffer for those sore joints taking some off the load off, and will also act as resistance for a bit of a muscle work out. Aqua aerobics for your pooch!

* Beds. Dogs with sore joints deserve a comfortable dog bed. Well made orthopedic dog beds are designed to take the stress off your dog’s lower back and hips. Make sure that your dog does not have to sleep in a draft and that he is nice and warm. The cold and damp make every one’s inflamed joints hurt more, including Rover’s. See these examples of dog beds.

* Diet. A good quality diet that is low in calories will be important in keeping Rover’s weight in the healthy range. If your dog is a little porky try cutting out the snacks first. It can be amazing how many additional calories all those tasty little treats can contain.

* Warmth. Your dog will be much more comfortable if he is kept warm and out of the damp. You may need to invest in a dog jumper if you live somewhere cold, or let him sleep by the fire or a heater in the cooler months. Any dog owners out there with arthritis themselves will know already how much more painful your joints can become in winter. Rover is no different.

* Aids. Once Rover can no longer master the steps, or jumping into your vehicle, you may want to think about a portable dog ramp. These will allow your dog to still get around independently without you having to lift him. This can be an important factor if you have a medium to large sized dog when saving your own lower back from strain and injury.
* Glucosamine. Glucosamine for dogs has become a popular and well used hip dysplasia treatment. Dog supplements containing the combination of glucosamine chondroitin seem to work best.  These are natural ingredients that seem to have no ill effects and have been used for many years with great success on humans. The glucosamine actually helps to restore the cartilage in your dog’s joints, which helps increase mobility and decrease pain.

Two things of importance to note about glucosamine. Firstly, it does not seem to work so well if it is heated up. If Rover has a hot dinner, wait until it cools or alternatively feed it to Rover straight off the dispenser. The fishy smell seems to make it more tasty for your dog. Secondly, you need to ensure that the supplement you are purchasing has a high quality of glucosamine in it. Many products out there do not have a high percentage of glucosamine in them. Also, your supplement should last you at least 1 month. Try this page for starters and read up on Glucosamine.

Other drugs. Glucosamine is generally the first treatment for dog arthritis. However, more severe cases may need additional dog medicines. Glucosamine can take up to 6 weeks to work, so if Rover is still in pain after this then you may need to revisit the vet for something a little stronger. Much like humans, there are NSAID’s and corticosteroids that can also be utilized for the more serious cases. If your dog needs these treatments be sure to discuss the correct dosages, methods of administration, and possible complications.

Conclusion.

Many breeds of dog are susceptible to hip dysplasia. By following a few simple rules you can ensure that your dog may only suffer from a mild case of canine arthritis. If your dog should be displaying any signs of hip dysplasia there are many dog supplements, dog medicines, and dog aids to make your best friend’s life more comfortable and less painful.

Remember to make your dog training fun and only do short amounts at a time to keep your dog interested and happy.

On Your Side

As is the case with most dog obedience and fun tricks, you train your dog progressively. Having a dog that lies on its side on command is useful for cutting its nails or checking your dog over for any problems. It is also a natural position for a dog so it should be quite an easy command to teach. Your dog also needs to know ‘on your side’ as part of the rollover command.

Watch this video
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=xPH5d-VD16w

Have your treats ready before you start and find a soft spot for your dog to lie on – the carpet or nice grassy area. Put your dog into the drop position then hold the hand with the treat in it close to your dog’s nose. Next, move your hand down their body and when they follow your hand, they naturally drop onto their side. This is because the movement takes advantage of how they lie on their side naturally. When they obey and drop onto their side, leave them there for a few seconds and then release them and give lavish praise and reward.

Practice this consistently and leave them in the position longer each time. You will eventually be able to teach your dog to stay in this position as well.

How to Train your dog to Rollover

Now your dog understands the ‘on your side command’ you can move on to rollover. Give the ‘on your side’ command. Get a food treat and give the command ‘rollover’. Move the food slowly over the dog’s nose, then slowly down the dog’s body and in the direction you want it to rollover in. As I do this, I may tickle the dog’s tummy the first few times to encourage it to lift a back leg. I then gently encourage the movement to continue until it rolls over.

As soon as your dog rolls over give it praise and the treat. Now train you dog to rollover in the other direction. Use the same method but in the opposite direction. Having a dog that rolls over is very handing when you want it to move its position. Instead of you having to physically move the dog, it will happily obey your command to rollover.

Always remember to reinforce your dog’s good behavior and make all dog training a lot of fun. A well balanced dog is a happy dog.

Anyone can teach their puppy or dog good manners. Just use consistency and reward good behaviour. Do not punish bad behaviour – ignore it unless it is dangerous. A dog’s poor behaviour is like a child throwing a tantrum. If you ignore the tantrum long enough they will just give up. So will your dog, especially if you reward it with a treat or a favorite toy when it does what you ask.

Benefits of Basic Dog Obedience Training

There is nothing better than an obedient dog. But it does not happen overnight. It takes patience, persistence, consistency and love. All a puppy or dog wants from you is your time and company. If you do not have this to give to your pet dog then why have you got one in the first place?

Leaving your best mate locked up in the back yard day after day only asks for trouble. If you do not have time for your pet dog then think about making time or rehoming it.

Watch the video
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=P4179b8CKsA

Basic dog obedience is as simple as sit, drop and stay. These are the three basic commands to train dogs from the very start.

Training Dogs to Stay

Now your dog is solid on the sit and drop commands start introducing the stay. I use feed time to start this puppy training.

Your dog wants its dinner and learns very quickly to sit and stay if it wants its food. Teaching it to stay and wait for its food is teaching your dog basic good manners.

With your dog’s dinner in one hand tell your dog to sit. Once your dog sits, tell it to stay and give the stay hand signal. This hand signal is an open hand with the palm facing the dog, like a stop sign. Give the signal and say ‘stay’ and put the food down. If the dog moves pick the food up and start again. You may have to repeat this a number of times when you first start. Be patient.

Don’t expect a puppy to stay still for more than a couple of seconds to start with so release it almost straight away. Once your dog or puppy gets the idea, start increasing the time it waits for you to release them to eat. If you have more than one dog, use numbers as release words. This way each dog learns to associate the different sounds to them individually. If you only have one dog you can still use free or okay.

Now your dog stays well for a few minutes at a time, start putting distance between you. Move further and further away until you are out of sight. Do a few things and when you come back, your dog will still be sitting, waiting to be released to eat. Most puppies and dogs pick this up in just a couple of days.

When your pet dog sits and stays well, teach it to stay in the drop position. The sit, drop and stay will serve you and you best friend well for many years to come.

These are the three most fundamental dog training basics you teach your dog. Do yourself a favour and check out your local dog obedience training club. Most are really affordable and run by volunteers. It helps to get the advice of volunteer experts willing to share their time with you and your dog

Are you enough of a pack leader for your dog? It is really important for your dog to know where it fits in to your family. And you, as the pack leader, are responsible for you dog’s wellbeing and for teaching it your rules.

A well-balanced dog is one that understands your rules as all they want is to keep you happy.

Discipline, exercise and love are the three most important things – in that order, your dog needs from you to keep it from displaying destructive and frustrating behavior.

Do you and you dog a favor; go to dog obedience classes right from the start as it will increase the bond between the two of you.

What Method to use when teaching Basic Obedience

The method I recommend in all dog training techniques is positive reinforcement and I tend to ignore poor behavior unless it is dangerous. This way my dogs understand that when they behave well they get the attention they want and behaving badly gets them nothing. Yelling and screaming at your dog just makes the situation worse. If you feel frustrated – just say nothing, walk away, and come back again later and try again.

Here’s a short dog traing video
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=wHUQr6VlFsE

How to Train your Dog to Sit

This is one of the easiest things you can train your dog or puppy to do. Teaching a good sit is the foundation of your working future together.

It really all starts here. The sit is one of the first basic commands you learn at dog training school and it is easy enough to teach your dog at home. The good thing is that you can teach your dog to sit from anywhere – while on the couch in front of the television or while walking around your back yard.

I always have treats in my pocket wherever I am. And my dogs pretty much follow me wherever I go as they are opportunists.

To teach your dog or puppy to sit, stand in front of them and tell them to sit. As you tell your dog to ‘sit’, have a treat in your hand and bring it up over its nose from front to back.

Your dog will watch the treat go over its head and has no choice but to sit. Reward your dog immediately by giving it the treat and reinforcing your command with ‘good dog sit, good sit’. Or words that suit you but will achieve the same result.

How to Train your Dog to Drop

Teaching your dog to drop is easiest on the lead to start with. Once again, make sure you have your dog’s favorite treats before you begin your dog training.

With the lead in your left hand, take a couple of steps forward and give the hand signal and voice signal ‘drop’ simultaneously. The hand signal I use is an open hand with the palm facing the dog. When I first start training a dog to drop, I put a treat between my fingers to encourage the dog to follow the treat to the ground.

So, to go over that again. With the lead in your left hand and the treat ready in your right one, take a couple of steps and give the ‘drop’ command signaling with your right hand to give your dog direction. The hand should go straight down towards the ground.

Reward your dog the minute it obeys you and give it a lot of praise. Always reinforce the good behavior with ‘good dog drop’ in a happy bright voice.

Remember, practice makes perfect. Some dogs will get the idea quicker than others. Always remember to finish your training on a positive note and there is no need to do more than 5 minutes training at a time.

Copyright Kay Nynnephun author of Easy Puppy Training Tips

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