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How to Stop Your Dog Growling
Dog growling is a natural instinct for dogs, but is only used when something is wrong.

This aggressive behaviour should never be tolerated. If your dog growls at you it means he sees you as a subordinate and not as his leader. This will undermine your whole relationship. Your pet must see you as the leader and respect your authority. If your dog starts growling at you, you must assert control and tell him no. This should begin when they are puppies.
At the first sign of your dog growling you should take him to a vet to rule out any medical problems. If he is given a clean bill of health, you may consider consulting a behavioral specialist. This is especially helpful if his aggression is stemming from experiences with a previous owner.
Make sure your dog understands the pecking order within the family. He needs to view all the humans as his superior. There are many simple ways to accomplish this. Do not allow your dog to walk through a door first. This lets him think he is the leader. If you allow him to sleep in the bed with you, he will think of himself as your equal. Make him lay at your feet if you must allow him in the bed. Do not allow your dog to eat first. The family should eat dinner before feeding your pet.
Make sure other members of the family participate in obedience training. Your dog needs to learn to obey them as well as you. If he does not follow their commands, you need to correct him and let him know that their authority is just as critical as yours. This can help prevent dog barking or growling, as well as to stop it in situations where your dog has become confused about pack rank.

To stop your pet from growling, you may need to work on his socialisation. Sometimes he is uncomfortable and afraid of other animals or situations, causing him to growl. If this is the case, consider gradually exposing him to new environments and other dogs. You may want to use a muzzle in the beginning. It may take some time for him to adapt, but if it works it will be well worth it.
If you hear your dog growling at any other time other than playtime you should consider starting aggression training. This could be a sign of a serious problem that you may not be able to handle alone. Consider working with a professional trainer. As an outsider to the situation, the solution to your dog growling problems may be quite obvious. A professional trainer often has experience working with such problems, and would know the best advice to give you.

November 12, 2013
How to Teach Your Dog Tricks
Teaching your dog tricks is every dog owner’s dream, but you must start with basic obedience and curbing any dog behaviour problems before you begin any dog trick training.
Your dog should know the basic commands such as sit, down, heel, stand, and come before you attempt any type of trick training.
Dog training tricks can help reinforce basic obedience training, as well as improve agility.
When you are working with your pet, some useful dog training tips include working on the training program in many different locations.
For example, if you only train your dog to respond to the command “Sit” while inside your home, it may not understand that it has to respond to this command outside as well. Leash training for example, is something that most people only do outdoors.

You have to work on this method inside the house as well and then it will be really effective.
Training your dog also means that you have to teach it to pay attention. If you have the dog’s attention, then you will also be in control of your dog. Use your dog’s name to get his attention.
Never use his name when punishing him or he may associate his name with bad behaviour. Instead, use his name to call him for food, treats, or play time. This will teach him to pay attention when you use his name, and will make training much easier.
Dog tricks training will be most effective with puppies as they have more enthusiasm and energy. You should never punish them during tricks puppy training, as this will take the fun out of the trick and make it a forced behaviour.
Instead, treats and praise should be used to reward your puppy when he successfully completes a trick. He will then see the trick as a positive way to get attention, and will want to repeat the trick. He will also be more eager to learn other new tricks.
All dogs are capable of doing tricks, but some breeds are more naturally suited to dog tricks training. It is very important to realise that not all breeds will be able to perform all tricks, so you must work within your pet’s natural capabilities. Do some research or seek the advice of a trainer to find out what tricks are ideal for your breed. This will mean less frustration for you and more success for your dog.
For some tricks training special equipment may be required. This will depend on what you plan to teach your pet, as well as what you expect them to do with the training. If dog trick training is simply for fun and amusement, then you may not need to spend much money on supplies. If you wish to enter your dog in competitions or put him on the big screen, then you may need an elaborate set-up.
Train your dog quickly and easily with these Top Dog Training Books.
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November 12, 2013
How to Stop Your Dog Digging
There are many reasons for a dog digging, and many ways to control or eliminate this problem. The first step should always be trying to find out why your dog is exhibiting this unwanted digging behavior.
Your dog may be digging for entertainment if he’s left outdoors for long periods of time without playmates or toys. Young puppies with no other outlet for energy may also dig as a form of exercise.
Some breed of dogs have been bred to dig or to be extremely active. You may want to try walking him more often, playing ball or Frisbee with him, or doing other activities together to get exercise. When your dog will be left alone outdoors, leave him plenty of toys and treats to keep him occupied. Try rotating these so he doesn’t get bored with his toys to fast. This can also curb dog whining.
If nothing else works, you may have to give him his own area for digging. If you catch your dog digging in an unacceptable area, interrupt the behavior with a loud noise and say, “No dig.” Then immediately take the dog to his designated digging area. When he digs in the approved spot, reward him with praise or a treat. Make the unacceptable digging spots unattractive (at least temporarily) by setting rocks or chicken wire into the dirt. There are also safe chemical sprays that can be used to discourage digging in this area. Make the acceptable area attractive by burying safe items for him to discover.
Your dog could also be digging to uncover insects or other burrowing animals in your yard. If this appears to be the case, treat your yard with pet safe chemicals to get rid of these unwanted pests. This should eliminate the dog digging behavior.

Dogs also dig for comfort and protection from the weather. He may be trying to keep dry during rain, or warm or cool depending on the season. Make sure that your pet has an insulated doghouse protected from the elements. If he still prefers to dig a hole, provide him an area he can dig in that will offer him relief from uncomfortable weather conditions.
If your dog only digs when you are present to witness it, or he doesn’t get to spend much time with you, than this behavior may simply be a cry for attention. Make sure you spend plenty of time with him, but do not give him attention when he digs. Even punishing him is giving him attention, so this may not discourage his behavior.
If all else fails, then you may have to keep your dog inside with you. Supervise him during outdoor play and bathroom breaks to make sure he is not digging. If you can discover the cause of the dog digging, however, this should not be a problem. It is much easier to solve a problem once you know what it is.
November 12, 2013
How to Stop Puppy Chewing
Puppy chewing can be a major nuisance for a new pet owner, as well as destroying precious belongings. This can quickly lead to frustration on the owner’s part and confusion for the puppy. After all, a young puppy does not know that chewing is bad behavior since it feels good to him.
Chewing generally occurs while teething, because is soothes sore gums. While it is pretty much impossible to stop your puppy from chewing altogether, you can train him to chew on approved toys or bones.
In order to stop puppy chewing, you must give your pet something of his that he is permitted to chew on. Take away what your puppy should not be chewing on, reprimand him gently, and replace it with his own toy. Praise your puppy for chewing on his own toy, showing him that this is an acceptable way to ease his sore gums.
Ideally your puppy should not be able to get to any objects he cannot chew on, but this is not always possible to accomplish. There are deterrent sprays that can be used on such objects to make their taste unpleasant. These sprays will not harm your pet or young children, but will make puppy think twice about chewing on the object.
It is easier to prevent puppy chewing than it is to correct unwanted habits. Do not allow your puppy to have unrestricted access to areas or items that are off limits. Place puppy’s approved chew toys and bones in his special area, and praise him openly for chewing on these. If he does get something he is not allowed to have, distract him, take it away, and give him his own chew toy. Do not harshly punish him for his chewing as he is only doing what feels good, and do not punish him if you do not catch him in the act. Punishing him hours after the fact will only confuse him, and he will learn nothing from it. This will accomplish nothing except to cause a strain in your relationship with your dog.
With proper training and reinforcement, you can keep puppy from chewing your belongings. Teach chewing puppies what they are allowed to chew, and help them ease sore gums in a safe and acceptable manner. This puppy training can be a lot of fun, and will teach your dog proper behavior before he develops bad puppy chewing habits.
November 12, 2013