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  • Dog Training Collar

    A dog training collar can come in a wide variety of styles, shapes, colours, and sizes. Pet stores seem to have an over-abundance of dog collars, and they are widely available on the Internet as well. So why are there so many different types of dog training collars?

    How do you know which one is best and which one to buy for your pet?

    Size and comfort are the most important aspects to any dog training collar. You should be able to fit two fingers between the collar and your dog’s neck. This allows him some growing room and ensures that the collar will not choke your puppy. A training collar should be comfortable as well so that your pet will get used to it quicker and will not try to chew it off.

    Afford-ability and style are also factors for many owners, but this is a personal choice and does not really affect the function of the training collar. This will only have to do with physical appearance and the price, so choose whichever one you are most happy with.

    There are many types of speciality collars that can aid you in a specific area. Choke collars are frequently used for service animals and agility training, and are simple enough for new dog owners to use. Head collars offer the owner more control in the direction of a dog’s movement. Pronged collars can help control large or unmanageable dogs, and are especially helpful to owners with a small body.

    Electronic dog training collars are quite controversial, but can be very helpful for dog obedience training, hunting, agility, police dogs, or dog trick training. While very effective for dogs that seem unattainable, the owner should always use caution and never use an electronic dog training collar for a dog with health problems, or with a puppy under one year of age.

    Citronella dog training collars may be used when a dog barks excessively. An electronic collar releases a small spray of citronella in front of the dog’s nose when he barks. This is unpleasant but safe, teaching the dog not to bark.

    When it comes to excessive barking, the electronic collar seems to be a little more effective, since some dogs adapt to the citronella. Apparently smelling like a fruit is preferable to being zapped.

    Any of these types of dog training collars can be beneficial during training, but only you know what is right for your pet and your training needs. Many people may offer advice when choosing a collar, but the decision ultimately lies with you. You can always change training collars if you are not satisfied with your purchase or if your dog develops specific problems a different dog training collar would address.

  • Dog Training Basics

    You’ve decided it’s time to start training your dog. Now what?

    Obviously you should start at the beginning, with some dog training basics for your pet. This will teach pets basic obedience, which is an important foundation for your relationship, as well as any future training.

    Before you even start training, you will want to discover the 3 Secrets Dog Training Pros Use Before They Start Training. Secrets to Dog Training reveals these and guides you through the whole process of easily training almost any dog.

    When undertaking such a project, keep in mind simple basic training tips to ensure success. You must remember to be patient and consistent with puppies, just as you would children. Not every dog learns at the same pace, and you cannot expect more from your pet than he is capable of. If you are impatient, you will quickly fail. Consistency is also crucial. If you do not correct bad behaviours, they can quickly grow into habits. Your pet will not understand why it was okay to jump on you one time, but he was scolded for it the next time. This will confuse your dog, and can undo all your hard work.

    Always try to use positive reinforcement rather than punishment. Praising your dog for hard work or rewarding him with a treat will make a longer lasting psychological impact than punishment for undesired behaviours. In some situations it may be necessary to scold or use light punishment, but if used too often your pet will just see this as another form of attention.

    Many other dog-training basics are really just common sense. Of course you should use whatever training methods work best for you and your pet. Just because one program worked for someone you know does not guarantee it will work for you. Obviously you should never overlook bad behaviour, or wait too late to start a training program with your puppy. There are many other basics to dog training, but as with everything else, they may vary from person to person.

    Clicker training dogs is a very effective and positive method that is used more and more often. Clicker training utilises a small plastic clicker that makes a distinct and recognisable sound when pressed. This is used when your pet exhibits the desired behaviour, and is much faster and consistent than verbal praise. Dogs tend to learn very rapidly during clicker training, and it is much gentler than some other methods. Clicker training is a form of operant conditioning, which psychology has proven to be extremely effective.

    If you do not feel you have the time or energy to embark on such a program alone, it should not be hard to find a qualified dog trainer in your area. A reputable dog trainer can help you with basic training, as well as any other type of training you may consider for your pet. You can also join classes to learn dog training how to, enabling you to extend your pet’s training.

    As with anything else, there are many valuable resources available to give you dog training information. There are websites and books with dog training basics, as well as some that cater to certain breeds. Your veterinarian or trainer should also be able to give you tips, or tell you where to find the best information for training your pet. No matter what form of dog training you choose there is a plethora of information available to help you and your beloved pet along the way.

  • Dog Training – Controlling Barking

    Dog barking is a common irritant for many pet owners and their neighbors.

    While barking is normal for dogs, just as making noise is normal for children, there comes a point when it becomes excessive and a major disturbance. While there are training collars to help with this problem, you should first try to find out why your dog is barking. Ask your neighbors what they witness when you are not home, and pay attention when you are to what is happening around your pet to start his barking. Dog behaviour barking may be easily identified and solved in many cases.

    Your dog could simply be barking out of loneliness or boredom. This can also lead to dog digging. If you leave him alone for long periods of time, you may consider hiring someone to walk him or care for him when you are unable to. Make sure you spend plenty of time with him when you are home. Make sure he has plenty of toys to play with, and walk him at least twice a day. Especially with very active breeds, this exercise may be all he wants.

    Dogs are extremely protective of their territory, so your pet may simply be responding to an intruder in his space, whether inside or out. Teach your dog a “quiet” command, and allow only three barks before you use this. If he continues to bark, distract him by squirting water at his mouth or squeaking one of his toys. Once he is quiet, praise him and reward him with a treat. You may also want to desensitize him to visitors and people walking past by having a friend gradually approach your home until he is accustomed to it and no longer barks. Spaying or neutering your dog may also decrease his territorial behaviour.

    Barking may also arise from fear. If he’s barking because he’s afraid of something, try to desensitize him to the fearful stimulus. A veterinarian may also help with this. If the fear is from thunderstorms or other outside noises, try placing him in an area of the house where the sound is muted. Distract him with a television, radio, or some other continuous noise until he is calm.

    Separation anxiety may be another reason for dog bark control. Again, a veterinarian may be able to help the most with this problem, but you can try counter-conditioning or desensitization. This is usually a problem when your dog is overly attached to you, is left alone for long periods of time, or has had a recent change of schedule. Puppies especially, get lonely when they are left alone, just like people do.

    Dog bark training can often be accomplished without resorting to specialty collars by simply paying attention to the cause of the dog’s barking. If this does not work, then you may need a citronella training collar or electronic collar for dog barking control.

  • Dog Obedience Training

    Dog obedience training has many perks for both the dog and it’s owner. An obedient dog can be given more freedom than one who has not been trained, and there are sure to be more treats and praise for him as well.

    The owner will be able to interact with a well-trained dog more positively and confidently, and is not bothered by worrisome behaviour.

    Dog training basics are simple and really just common sense. First of all, you need to be patient when training him. You should have a positive attitude towards obedience training for dogs, and should reward your puppy when he gets something right rather than punishing him for forgetting. Use the method that works best for you and your pet. If something does not seem to fit you, look for another program.

    Don’t ignore behaviour problems, but work to correct them. Keep training sessions short and fun. Neither you or your dog will do your best if you are tired or bored. Make sure you pick a time when your puppy is calm and ready to learn. These basic tips will make the rest of the training much simpler. There are many other valuable dog obedience tips out there for the responsible owner. Take advantage of the resources available to you on the Internet, at the library or book store, or seek the advice of other trainers.

    So what types of canine obedience training are there? There are many different methods of obedience training dogs, so look for a program that works best for you and your K9 companion.

    Basic obedience dog training simply teaches your pet to obey simple commands. This will not only ensure pet obedience, but will also strengthen the love and trust between an owner and pet.

    Clicker training dogs is a form of operant conditioning that uses a plastic clicker. The sound the clicker makes is positive reinforcement for a desired behavior when conducting dog obedience lessons. This gentle method has become increasingly popular, and it seems to be extremely effective.

    Dog leash training is pretty simple, but extremely important. This will teach your dog what you expect from him, and you keep complete control over your pet. You can use the leash to guide him gently into the desired behaviour. Dog leash training will protect the safety of your pet, and can also help teach him simple commands.

    Dog trick training may or may not be for you. This is popular with owners who wish to enter their pets in dog shows or competitions, but many other people simply want to teach their dogs cute tricks. Whatever the motivation, dog tricks training can improve the agility of your pet, and help to reinforce basic obedience training.

    There are many types of dog obedience equipment, but you should only invest in what is needed for your particular training needs. For basic training you may need no more than a collar, leash, and some treats. You would need a more elaborate agility set-up for dog trick training. A dog training collar or other forms of dog obedience training equipment may speed up the training process, and can also be used to correct dog obedience problems.

    Dog obedience courses may help both you and your pet during the training process. This will give you the benefit of working with an experienced trainer, and may take some of the stress off of you in the beginning. You may be able to find a breed specific dog obedience course that would speed up the process.

    There are many different ways to approach dog training and obedience. A quick search of the web can help you find many dog obedience training tips. Finding the right method for you and your pet will greatly benefit you both, as well as improving your pet’s behaviour. Obedience training is a valuable investment of time and money that you will never regret.