Dog Training Basic Guidelines

Before you begin your dog training, there are certain things which you need to avoid. There are quite a few, but the most common may be generalized into the following main ideas.

First of all, pick the right breed. Many people fail to understand that different breeds of dogs have different proclivities and weaknesses. What this means ultimately is that different types of dogs are not interchangeable, and that a person should select a pet which suits his or her own tendencies. For example, it makes sense for someone with a sanguine temperament to get a dog which belongs to working breed. Likewise, if you’re more inclined towards less activity then you may want to pick a less energetic breed. It does not work to mix a quiet introverted person with a dog breed which is predisposed towards outdoor activity. But all concerns aside, the point here is that you need to pick a breed that suits your lifestyle.

Next, make sure that you are prepared for unexpected accidents. During your dog training, any number of things may happen and some can even affect your dog's health. Also, some dogs catch on pretty quickly, while others can be a little slow. If or, more likely, when something goes wrong, don’t be violent with your dog. That is counterproductive. Spanking and yelling will not make the whole training process go smoothly. It may even complicate things even further.

Potty training for example, can lead to a lot nasty emotions. It’s the kind of training that requires large amounts of patience, not to mention a little praise every time the dog does his business outside.

Of course, discipline and violent behavior are two different things and a little corrective measure is always necessary in facilitating the training process. Just remember that discipline doesn’t involve physical abuse.

And lastly, avoid exposing your dog to chaotic or loud noises during training, especially your voice, as they will only cause confusion and fear. And although it can be understandably difficult to avoid swearing or shouting when something goes wrong, it’s also something which needs to be avoided.

Dogs are very attentive creatures by nature and they can easily detect if you’re angry or about to do something unpleasant. The same is true for body movement. They can tell what you are about to do based on movement alone. As a result, in a tense situation, your dog may know what you’re feeling even before it registers inside your mind.

On the other hand, commands are understood by dogs partially at an emotional level, which means that if you intend to train them properly, you will need to put the right amount of emotion behind your voice. The trick of course is to balance it in such a way that it doesn’t scare your dog, while at the same time relaying the command that you want him to obey.

Other than the general tips mentioned above, here are also a few things which you need to avoid while training your dog (And although they may sound obvious, it always helps to have them as a checklist for easy recall):

•Kicking
•Hitting
•Tapping
•Throwing

•Yelling
•Grabbing
•Poking

Avoid these kinds of behavior, and with the right training routine, you’ll have an easier time
training your dog.

Dog Training 101

A lot of people think training a dog to hand-shake with a man is so easy. Maybe it is. So, they consider teaching a dog doing a hand-shake “dog training”. Certainly a no, no, no!

Dog training is more than just teaching a dog to do a hand-shake, or to catch a ball, or to roll. There's more to those tricks. But of course, those tricks are also a part of “dog training”. Other than caring for their dog health, dog owners will eventually want to teach their dogs with even just the basic tricks because they want them to behave in a way that they are pleasant to be around. Studies proved that dogs do not learn obedience on their own, instead they have to be trained in order for them to act the way humans want them to.

Dog training has several areas. One of the most popular and commonly done by trainers, handlers, owners or friends of the dogs is the obedience training. This is the basic area of dog training where you teach your dog to “sit”, “stand”, “lie”, “heel”, “beg”, “come”, and “stay and down”. Obedience is the prerequisite or the foundation of your dog training and it usually requires a good relationship and trust between the dog and the owner or the handler.

Once the dog already knows the basics and is already “obedient”, then you can move on to a more difficult area like teaching more tricks to be performed in a circus, or to be a guide to the blind, or to be a rescue dog and help find victims during a disaster, or be a hunting dog and help hunters find what they want in the forest. Be sure that you are not jeopardizing your dog health along the process of your dog training. Dogs play an important role as guard animals. You may also train dogs with other tricks which can be very helpful so they may be police dogs, rescue dogs, detection dogs, sheep dogs or schutzhund, a German term for protection dogs.

Dogs are considered to be man's best friend. They are among the very few animals that are easy to teach and to be tamed. It’s good to train dogs if they are still puppies because just like humans, this is the stage where their attitudes and abilities and dog health are still developing. Dogs that are petted and are handled carefully during this stage is more amenable to be trained and to be lived with in the house. There are some training schools for dogs where professionals teach them the tricks. However, it is also advisable that the owners learn the tricks as well. It is best that both the dog and the owner enroll to the training school together so they learn easily and interaction will be fun.

For those who are patient who want to spend time personally with their dog training, it is quite easy, though it requires patience. Just like life, you cannot just train the dog overnight. It also requires constant practice. It is trial and error. Communication is a very important factor. Humans want to teach the dogs what attitudes and behaviors are correct. They want the dog to know what is right and wrong, but it may be so difficult because these animals cannot talk nor can they understand what a person is trying to say. Dogs bark and they cannot speak so humans must make effort to show the dog what he wants to happen and once the dog learns what is being taught, they must also be given a reward. Just like human beings, these animals have feelings; too, so rewarding them for a job well-done will also boost their self-esteem.

Dog Health Tip – Take Your Dog for a Walk

Talking about dog health, don't you know that a round of exercise a day will keep your dog up and about from the boredom of being alone at home while you are at work? Truly! If you are a dog lover, spending time with your dog outdoors like taking him for a walk could mean a lot in strengthening the bond of a human-canine relationship plus keeping you both fit, healthy and above all happy.

Like humans do, dogs have certain basic needs necessary for survival. Aside from providing a good food and a good home, a routine of a good exercise must be made available as well. Exercised dogs will likely live longer than inactive and isolated dogs. It will spare them from having poor muscle tone, obesity, heart ailments and bone disorders resulting to weakness and untimely death. Dog lover wouldn’t want this to happen. Consequently, it will bring you grief and guilt since your pet is a mere reflection of the kind of owner you are breaking down to the quality of care and provisions you have given. However, a well exercised dog possesses a strong, active and a happy aura with the benefit of behaving well in your household.

What kind of dog training exercise should you imposed? Actually, taking your dog a walk while on leash is the simplest form of dog exercise enough to improve your dog health. It will allow him to experience outdoors, socialize with people and fellow dogs – a good way of treating aggression problems. An appropriate venue may be in a wide open space preferably in the park as not all households nowadays have a wide yard giving your dog the opportunity to run around but with close supervision. Other than walking you can introduce more exciting and vigorous exercise like swimming and fetching. Swimming can be helpful in strengthening the lung function and the good thing is you will have the fun of dipping together with you pet while improving your dog health Doing this activity in lakes or the beach is a great choice during hot summer seasons, since it gives him a great workout without the risk of getting overheated and the peril of dehydration. Another fun dog exercise is fetching. You can teach your dog to fetch and catch a ball or could be a Frisbee.

Committing yourself to your dog health through exercise is like a touch of love to your furry friend. In return guarantees you to a fun and stress away moments with your canine companion the way you wanted them to be. This is the surest thing to prove that you are a certified dog lover.