Last Wednesday I received an emergency message from a client, Clare, about a dogfight. Normally her two young dogs are best friends, but last week there was a big-time dogfight.

Concerned that this was not going to be an isolated incident, Clare called me for advice. She insisted that she had no idea what could have caused the fight.

In Clare’s mind the problem “came out of nowhere!”

But when it comes to dog obedience training, in reality there were definite reasons why her dogs lost control, and dog behavior signs that indicated the dogs were getting edgy with each other. (For example, when a dog would enter the room, the other one would start growling.)

Before I share the rest of the story, I’d like you to go and download this free dog obedience training audio course that I’ve put together for you. This audio course alone can solve some of the most common dog obedience issues most people are faced with, but I’m also going to throw in 16 dog training videos, 5 dog training manuals, and a lot more free stuff to help you out. I really hope you’ll go do that right now.

Back to the story.

When we talked I reminded Clare that she was in the process of remodeling her house. No matter how well the project goes, whenever there are strangers in your house doing construction, it creates chaos.

The remodeling project wasn’t exactly going smoothly. Normally quiet and relaxed at home, instead Clare was tense and upset and had unhappy discussions with the subcontractor. And to make matters worse, this had been going on for a long time!

So What Made Clare’s Dogs Do This?

Clare said, “But my dogs like each other! Her dogs normally play and sleep together with no problems.”

The plain truth is… dogs do not live in a vacuum. They pick up on what is happening in their environment and what their people are thinking, feeling, and experiencing. Clare’s dogs:

1.  Watched Clare (who is usually calm) verbally confront a subcontractor many times,

2.  Felt her unhappiness, anxiety, and anger,

3.  Lived in remodeling chaos,

4.  Missed dog classes, and

5.  Lacked regular exercise. (Because it had been so hot for the past few weeks, Clare neglected to take them on their usual walks and simply let them run in her backyard instead.)

Any of those reasons alone probably would not have triggered a fight, but when stacked on top of each other, the increasing level of stress broke down the relationship between two formerly friendly dogs.

Will this Now be a Permanent Shift in the Dogs’ Relationship?

No. The construction project is now over. Peace has been restored in the house. The dog lessons and the regular walks have resumed. It will take a little time, but things between the two dogs will go smoothly again.

Think About the Hidden Emotional Signals You’re Sending to Your Dog?

If you want to see how your emotions affect your dogs try this exercise from my book, Catch Your Dog Doing Something Right.

Ask the dog to join you in a room. Shut the door. Sit down on the floor. Do not talk, move, or gesture but think angry and unhappy thoughts for the first minute.

Then you want to add actual words, other sounds, and even body language to express your feelings.

However, do not direct them at the dog! During the next 30 seconds… feel the emotion pouring out.

* Does the dog come up to you, avoid you, get nervous, or ignore you?

* Can you see your dog’s reaction differ? Does the dog react more when you add words, feelings, and body language?

Now shift your thinking and start focusing on happy and exciting thoughts for 60 seconds. Then you want to add actual words, other sounds, and even body language to express your feelings. However, do not direct them at the dog! During the next 30 seconds use a happy voice… feel the emotion pouring out.

* Does the dog exhibit feelings of being anxious, does he approach you, avoid you, or ignore you?

* Can you see your dog’s reaction differ? Does the dog react more when you add words, feelings, and body language?

If you want to see what effect your voice and your attitude has on your dog, this really simple exercise will show you. When you are stressed or upset due to a bad day at work, a fight with a neighbor or son, or an accident where you trip and hit your shin against the table, your dog feels it. Tension is something that dogs absorb.

There are certain signs of dominant behaviors that demand quick action, such as one dog putting his chin on another dog’s shoulders, snarling or growling if another dog enters the room, guarding a toy or a food bowl, or ears or a tail that is very erect. What you need to do is to figure out the reasons behind the sudden dominant behavior and then work to rebalance the relationship with training, changes in diet, exercise, doing more to assert yourself as pack leader, and getting in touch with a professional if things still aren’t working.

Also, be sure to go and download the free dog obedience training audio course (and the videos and workbooks) I mentioned above. These tools have helped many thousands of dog owners understand why their dogs act the way they do, and I’m sure they’ll do the same for you!

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This article serves as an introduction to my dog training guide by explaining the basic principles behind all dog training practices and some of the pitfalls that need to be overcome.

Dogs live for the present. Dogs have very little recall memory, their thoughts are almost totally based upon association. Dogs are not able to reason as we do. Dogs do not think in abstract terms, it is simply action = consequence for them. Dog conduct that is rewarded with treats and/or verbal praise is likely to be repeated whereas conduct which is ignored is usually avoided. This is the main principle behind any kind of dog training.

Take sitting for example, if you give him a treat or verbal praise every time he sits then he will start to sit on command simply because he knows that he will be rewarded. Conversely, to stop your dog from repeating an action in the future like jumping up for attention you should completely ignore him when he does it.

You should praise conduct you wish to reinforce and dismiss conduct you wish to discourage, this way you create associations for your dog. It all seems to be very easy doesn’t it? So what is it that makes dog obedience training so problematic?

One of the problems is that you only have about two seconds to make the association between action and reward. This implies that it is very possible for an inexperienced trainer to make a wrong association. For example, you are training your dog to sit but by the time you praise him he is already standing up again – you have mistakenly encouraged the stand up rather than the sit. Another scenario would be to find that your dog has messed on the carpet when you come home. You drag your dog to the scene of the crime and rub his nose in it saying ‘Bad Dog’ and push him outside. All you have achieved is to teach your dog that going to the toilet is wrong.

In the home a dog can have too many masters who will completely confuse him by contradictory associations and opposing training methods. Your dog should not have more than one trainer and one master.

The basics of dog obedience training have been explained in this dog training guide. They are simple on paper but not so easy to carry out. However, knowing the basics will always help when applying specific dog training methods.

Go to www.TrainMyOwnDog.com to see more articles on dog obedience training.

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It’s the desire of most dog owners to have a well behaved dog. Obviously training your dog is a thing that needs a commitment of time and energy, but having a dog who knows his place and can be part of the household makes it well worth it.

The goal of dog training is to teach your canine how to act, behave or respond in given situations. The younger your pet is when you begin this training, the easier and faster it can be.  But first, as a pet trainer you must figure out your dog and how he learns, so that you can start to instill suitable dog behavior.

Essentially, dog training is about communication. It’s getting across to your dog what is acceptable and unacceptable behavior, what you will and won’t allow, and in the end, helping your dog to realize that you are in control and he must heed your commands.

The typical areas of focus when it comes to training seem to be housebreaking, leash training and basic dog obedience. However, problem behaviors such as barking, whining, growling, digging, aggression and chewing are all areas that can be dealt with as part of training your dog. Dogs generally are gentle animals that want to bond with you and your family; they just need some guidance in terms of proper dog behavior so the relationship can thrive.

When it comes to dog obedience training there are a few things that are essential to bear in mind. The first one we’ve already discussed and that is the importance of getting the point across to your dog that you are the master and what you say goes.

Next, when choosing a way to reprimand your dog, ensure it will not cause your dog to become afraid of you. Punishment inflicted on your pet will cause them to either be nervous around you, or simply not want to be around you nor heed anything you are telling them.

To aid in this, a wonderful training tool has become available – an ultrasonic sound device. This is a device that gives off a sound frequency that only pets can hear. When the sound is heard by the dog, it will interrupt what he is doing. Thereby in a completely harmless manner, by the simple push of a button to deliver the signal, while giving a stern voice command to help your dog come to understand that the behavior is unacceptable, you stop an undesirable behavior. And best of all, you can use it with all focus areas of training.

In line with this, is the third point. To speed up your dog training, add in some positive reinforcement. After a few instances of rewarding your dog for what he does correctly, he will quickly make the association and will repeat the behavior to earn the reward. Naturally this is going to take some awareness from you, to bolster the favorable behavior. It’s natural to reprimand him when he’s behaving badly. Remembering to praise his good behavior is something you as a pet trainer must train yourself to carry out.

It’s really worthwhile doing all it takes for dog training. When your dog knows his place and how to behave properly, you’re able to included him in family events, knowing that he will instantly heed your command if an issue arises. And, he’ll behave properly when people show up at your door. A well-mannered dog also assures the safety of your family and friends. So begin training your dog today for a better tomorrow.

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Dealing with an aggressive dog can be a major problem especially if you have children around. If you find your dog is getting aggressive there are a few different options available to you.

The first option presented to you would be to just say goodbye to your dog (not necessarily the best option). While this is not the option most people choose it is something some people do.

If you do decide that you want to get rid of your dog then make sure you find him a safe home. You should never let any dog go especially if they are aggressive. Dogs are no longer breed to be wild animals so they would be truly unsafe out on their own.

The better option would be to either train your dog to not be aggressive or let someone else train him. There are a variety of classes you can take your dog to and there are private dog trainers most everywhere. If you decide to train your dog yourself, do not worry if you encounter some dog training problems. This is normal and you and your dog will be able to overcome the dog training mishaps.

Clicker training is an excellent way to train your dog. When done properly, clicker training can help you see a major improvement in your dog’s behavior. The beauty of clicker training for dogs is that after a while of using the clicker you will have a dog that listens to your commands without the need of using the clicker or dog treats.

Timing is everything when using the clicker dog training method. If you mess this up it will be much harder to train your dog and will take much longer.

The moment that your dog follows your command you need to click and give him a treat. If you click to late your dog will only know that you are being very nice and giving him lots of treats.

You also should keep the clicker tucked in your hand so your dog can not see it. You can also do clicker training by clicking with your tongue.

No matter how you are going to train your dog make sure you are using positive and safe dog obedience training methods. Using negative methods to train your dog will not only hurt your dog but he will get steadily worse behaved as time goes on.

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Whether you have a puppy or an old dog, it makes good sense to devote a bit of time training them. Even though there is an abundance of information available about how exactly to train your dog, you can’t go wrong with dog training tips from the professionals.

1.  Positive reinforcement is crucial. Even though there are several theories regarding how to train your dog, most dog training experts acknowledge that positive reinforcement is most effective. Positive reinforcement involves rewarding your dog with verbal praise “good dog”, physical praise like a pat on the head and food rewards. It doesn’t involve shouting at your dog, hitting or punishing them.

Positive reinforcement works because it builds a relationship of trust with your dog. Dogs are motivated by rewards especially food rewards.

2. Consistency is essential. If you’re working with your dog on a particular skill or trick then try to train them at the same time each day. This helps your dog understand what to expect. Most dogs thrive on structure and will perform and learn faster if they understand what is expected. If you are training using food rewards, try and train your dog before mealtime so they’re a little hungry and motivated.

3. Show patience. Dogs have a tendency to learn in waves. Sometimes they pick things up quickly and the following day it seems like you must start over from the beginning. Be patient. Begin every new trick with very small steps and be very clear about what you expect. Even with the smallest tricks such as “sit” you will want to break it down into smaller steps.

4. Make use of hand cues as well as verbal cues. Some dogs have an easier time understanding and remembering hand signals than they do with verbal cues. Assign a hand signal to each trick or behavior you are training.

5. Train in small increments. Dogs have short attention spans. Attempting to train them for twenty or thirty minutes isn’t going to work. They are going to become frustrated and lose focus. Instead, keep training sessions to no more than five minutes.

Initially, you may choose to train for only a minute or two until your dog learns to look forward to training. Dogs can learn to dislike training. Keeping the training sessions short will help them learn to enjoy the process.

6. Always finish on a positive note. Learning a new trick is hard work. Finish each training session, no matter how frustrating, on a positive note. Always give your dog a trick or behavior to perform that they know how to perform and end with a food reward and a lot of praise.

7. Keep your dog healthy. Finally, one of the most important dog training tips from the experts recommends feeding your dog good quality dog food, giving them sufficient fresh drinking water and making certain they get adequate sleep. A healthy dog is a happier dog and will understand desired behaviors much more quickly.

For more dog training tips, visit Dog Obedience Training.

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You will find thousands of diverse puppy instruction ideas you may choose to try out.  The problem is, many of these tend to be just a charade and many dog owners end up taking their particular canine to a pro canine trainer after struggling together with all that they have got to teach the puppy independently.  It could be hard to ascertain which dog instruction tips are helpful and can in fact perform from the ones that are just a myth.  All of these will be a few of the simplest but necessary puppy instruction suggestions that you need to be focusing on with your puppy.

Sit is one of the most elementary and yet important commands a dog will need to master.  Teaching a dog to sit down is so significant so they’ll understand not to jump on guest visitors in your house and cause it to easier for you to quiet them down while getting examined at the veterinary.  Among the best canine instruction tips involves instructing your puppy this particular talent, and also to get going you ought to have the puppy standing.  You will have to supply them an easy even push to the behind to help them move their bottom down and sit on the floor.

Then you need to tell them sternly to sit down, and the minute they do you allow them a treat, toy or perhaps pat on the head.  Even just a couple seconds too long and the dog shall be confused because they probably won’t know what you are rewarding them for.  One more of the biggest pet instruction ideas has to do with house training a puppy dog.  In this way they will understand what they are being rewarded for.

Inserting their face in it and yelling at them are certainly not procedures which are actually going to help you get the actual outcome you’re seeking, consequently be sure this is not the way you are reacting anytime your puppy has an incident.  Keeping in continuous communication with your puppy is vital if you need them to be effectively housetrained.  It is in addition most beneficial to generate a schedule for the dog, as they are likely to grow used to this.  Provide them with their food at the same exact moment every day and take them out and about for a walk around a 1 / 2 hours following each meal.

This will assist their systems to become comfortable with the timetable and they’ll manage to hold it longer until they’re let outside.  Your dog bark training collar for illustration can easily do the job to show your dog when to bark and when it’s simply unacceptable.  Among the finest dog instruction ideas for coping with too much barking is to use a barking collar.  These are useful puppy training tips that could work if carried out in the right way and with practice.

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Shih Tzu dogs are typically kept as pets for their companionship, and not as work dogs, which makes Shih Tzu training somewhat easier. Companion dogs cover a variety of breeds and dog sizes, including Pomeranian, Pekingese, Pug, the Alsatian Shepalute (not to be confused with the Alsatian or German Shepherd), and Elos among others. Because Shih Tzu are companion dogs and not used for work, typical Shih Tzu obedience training is fairly straightforward. Show dogs, however, will require special show-related training.

If you would like to learn about dog obedience training, check out this site: dog obedience training

More than just the basic obedience training, puppy potty training is also highly recommended when you are training Shih Tzu in your home – whether they are a puppy or an adult dog. Shih Tzu, especially while still puppies, need clear potty training to ensure that you don’t have to clean up their mess in the house. To potty train a puppy, make sure you have the best information from top training experts.

Puppy Potty Training Tips from Top Trainers: Patience is possibly the most vital part of puppy toilet training. Don’t expect that your dog will understand the rules of the house and where and when to go potty as soon as you teach them. It can take a week or two to sink in. Puppy potty training should never be rushed, just be persistent and they should have it down in a few days to about a week. Keep in mind that you should never strike your puppy. So often, novice dog owners get upset when puppy eliminates in the house or somewhere he or she is not supposed to. Don’t hit your puppy and don’t shove their little face in their poo or urine. Training your Shih Tzu about proper potty habits can be frustrating but violence is not the answer. When puppies and dogs are physically punished, often they are not clear WHY they are being punished and they may start to be frightened of the person doing the punishing, (in this case, YOU). Being unkind to your puppy is not a component of proper Shih Tzu dog training. Not feeding your Shih Tzu right before you go to bed is another great puppy potty training tip.

For more Shih Tzu training tips and great information about potty training, check out this helpful site:
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The best Poodle training should take into account the breed’s history as well as their personality. Very intelligent and often beautiful, poodles can make great family pets when properly trained and socialized. They come in a variety of sizes: standard, medium, miniature and toy, and can play different roles it their owners’ lives. Before you start training a poodle, you need to decide if you are going to show them or work them at all because training for show and work dogs is quite a bit different. Poodle obedience training should be done with all show, work, and companion Poodles.

If you would like more information about dog obedience training for your Poodle, check out this website: Dog Obedience Training

Because they are very intelligent, Poodle training is often pretty easy. A quick reminder: when training Poodles, be aware that they are often a great deal more sensitive than many other breeds. Poodles are infamous for getting upset often. If you are annoyed or upset while training your Poodle, it is far better to pause your training session and walk away for a while than to risk upsetting your dog. And getting your Poodle wound-up is not going to do your Poodle training any good. Poodle obedience training should go very smoothly as long as you keep the breed’s special characteristics in mind.

Recently, our researchers have discovered some very useful Poodle training tips in the Dog Training Zone. The Dog Training Zone helps owners of all breeds understand their dogs better. And better understanding can help you with your dog obedience training and even improve your relationship with your pooch. While training a Poodle, finding out as much information as possible about their history and their breed with enrich not only your poodle training experience but hopefully your non-training time with your Poodle as well. Anything less than the best can potentially upset your pup, so be sure to find a dog training guide that is top notch. To get a clearer picture about the program, check out a Dog Training Zone review from dog owners who have used it and experienced great results.

Click here for the Dog Training Zone in review or for more Poodle training tips:
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I don’t suppose you realised that when you brought you dog into your home you had to be a leader.   You probably just wanted a companion but your dog needs a strong leader.As you might expect, things to do with the ‘companion’ role have nothing in common with those associated with the ‘leadership’ role.   So if you are going to have a successful relationship with your dog you need to put the ‘companion’ role in the back seat and take up your responsibilities as a leader.   If you don’t your dog will become insecure and attempt to assume the leadership role himself.This can result in several mostly undesirable behaviours.

It is necessary that you look at at things from your dog’s viewpoint if you are to become an effective leader.   To be an effective leader there are three principles that every dog owner should follow. This dog training guide shows you three things that you should always bear in mind.

1 Manage your Dog’s Time

Create a routine and do not depart from it.Dogs need to have a routine.Regularly use a crate to a schedule.Confinement is most effectively and safely carried out in a crate.   Your dog feels secure and safe there and will look forward to going there.It is necessary to acclimatise your puppy to it as quickly as possible and use it for the whole of his life according to the requirements of his particular development stage.

Your dog needs a structured life bound by consistent rules.As your dog proves himself a good leader expands his boundariesof responsibility.   He is also not worried about removing liberties or tightening boundaries if disrespectful behaviours return.

2 Direct Activities

When you dog is out of his crate you should have an activity plan available which is not just ’sit and be quiet’.You dog must know what is acceptable behaviour in your home so you should actively practice obedience commands.   Praise is what your dog’s world is all about, it is the brightest star in his universe.Running through obedience commands provides the chance to give your dog that praise and should be a major part of dog obedience training.

3 Be Consistent

Without consistency your dog will be confused and frustrated.Always use the same sequence of command words every time that you require a certain behaviour or action.Similarly, the same pattern must be followed by everyone in your home.   We all have bad stressful days so make sure that you do not take the stress out on your dog.   Stressful outbursts from you will result in stressful behaviours from your dog.Leaders do not act in an inconsistent manner they remain in control of their feelings.

So that’s all there is to it – If you are ready to become pack leader and do everything that it entails, you will discover that your dog becomes a wonderful companion which is what you wanted in the first place isn’t it.

Go to my dog training guide where you will find more information on all aspects of dog training.

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An aggressive dog willdisplaysigns like snarling, barking, growling, baring teeth, and in the worst cases, biting. This kind of dog needs dog training as soon as possible to help control its behavior and make it a happier dog.

A dog’s aggression is caused by different reasons. These include fear, jealousy, bad treatment by previous owners, being territorial, or other unknown reasons. Certaindog breeds are more susceptible to being aggressive than others such as Rottweilers or Chow Chows.

Dogs are territorialand when they feela threat to their or their master’s territory, they planto defend it. Dogs are pack animals so they also want their place in their pack known.

If a dog was once abused, he may now be afraid ofstrangers and may bark, snarl or bite strangers that get too close. This does not mean they are bad dogs, it is just that they are scared and want to defend themselves.

Socializing may be important to pups and if puppies are not socialized, they are more likely to be aggressive. A dog who had a previous owner that abused it or rewarded aggressive behavior isanother basisof dog aggression.

Aggressive dog training will teach dogs what behavior is acceptable and what behavior is not. With time and effort you can train your dog to stop the aggressive behavior.  

It is important to start training an aggressive dog right away because people are frightenedof them and forobvious safety reasons. Not a soulwants their dog to bite someone.

When a dog shows aggressive behavior, give the dog a loud and firm “No!” and put the dog in time out. Dogs love attention of their owners and this time out will cut it off from its owner after the bad behavior.

Allow him to be free after the designated time and the next time the dog becomes aggressive, do the same thing and the dog will understand that this negative behavior makes his master upset.

Another tip in aggressive dog training is tonever chain up your dog for long periodof time as this may alsomake a dog have aggressive behavior and make sure your dog receives enough exercise and attention.

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