Dog Obedience Training

Labrador Puppies For Hunting

Labrador Retrievers have become the most popular dogs in the United States. Having reached the top, they have stayed there for a number of years, and seem reluctant to relinquish the crown.

Many of the Labradors that have found homes as a result of the breed’s popularity have become pets, but this dog was, and continues to be bred as a retrieving gun dog.

Labrador Puppies Hunting Homes

Visit a breeder or animal shelter, and you find many Labrador puppies hunting homes. Some will be purebred, AKC-registered dogs. Some will be mixed breed. Some will be bred for pets, while others will be bred for show. If you want Labrador puppies for hunting, however, you will want to look for specific characteristics.

Breeder

The best Labrador puppies for hunting are probably those that come from a good breeder. The breeder should be acquainted with the standard for the breed. More importantly, though, the breeder should be dedicated to, and passionate about, training, breeding, and hunting Labrador Retrievers.

Ask basic questions. Does the breeder use only breeding stock that comes from the finest field trial and hunt test lines available? Ask to see pedigrees of the breeding dogs. Ask to see proof of awards won.

Does the breeder monitor the health of breeding dogs? Are their Labs’ eyes and hips screened for genetic disorders before breeding? Will they guarantee the health of the Labrador puppies’ eyes and hips for a period of time? Do they keep kennels clean, clearly disinfected?

Are testimonials available from customers who have purchased Labrador puppies for hunting? Is there a possibility of talking directly to any of those people to learn more?

Labrador Puppies

Observe the puppies carefully, and ask questions. It won’t be too hard to choose the puppies that look nicest to you, but there are more important matters at stake if you want Labrador puppies for hunting.

Run through the following check list. Labrador puppies that have all or most of these 7 features are likely to be the most trainable for hunting. The 7 features are not necessarily listed in order of importance.

1. The Labrador puppies have been well socialized, including learning to be comfortable with children as well as adults: learning to get along with other dogs; introduction to birds; crate conditioning; and kennel conditioning.

2. The Labrador puppies have been introduced to water if the season permits.

3. They are obviously intelligent.

4. They are bright and alert when playing.

5. All of the Labrador puppies have respected pedigrees.

6. All of the Labrador puppies have had quality veterinarian care, being wormed, and receiving necessary shots.

7. They are clean and shiny.

New Owner

No matter how wonderful the Labrador puppies hunting homes are, if they are going to be Labrador puppies for hunting, the new owner will have a lot of responsibility. You will have to take those intelligent, energetic, eager Labrador puppies and teach them to retrieve birds for you. To do so, you may want to consider the following points.

1. It is a fallacy that your Labrador puppies must stay outside in a kennel if they are going to be good hunting dogs. Labrador puppies bond with their owners better, and develop much better temperaments if they are permitted to live indoors with the family.

2. For the first 5 or 6 months, you may want to teach your Labrador puppies little else than retrieving. That is, you may want to teach them to come when called. This is of topmost importance in retrieving. It is also important when an emergency arises, such as an unexpected vehicle, a snake, etc. It is a lesson that human children also should learn from a young age. You want your Labrador puppies to learn that “Come” means immediately running directly to you.

3. Some puppies are taught to sit when they are very young, but they receive so much praise, all they want to do is sit. Some are started out with an obedience course that would be used for any pet dog. They learn to obey many commands, but end up not wanting to add retrieving to the list.

4. Keeping Labrador puppies in the house allows you to use the hallway as an early “retrieving ground” for the puppies. When you throw a dummy down the hall, they have nowhere to go but back to you. As the puppies learn, you can sit to one side of the hallway, making them come directly to you. If they try to run past you, you can easily capture them.

If you are not experienced at training Labrador puppies for hunting, you may want to enlist a trainer who is, or follow use of the many books that offer complete training programs. Finally, even though you got your Labrador puppies for hunting, enjoy their undying affection and humor.

Anna Hart
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/labrador-puppies-for-hunting-120364.html

Are Pit Bulls An Intelligent Breed?

In a word YES!

And being an intelligent dog has its own advantages and
drawbacks.

Here are a few tips for making your Pit Bulls training
experience fun and rewarding for both of you…

Pit Bulls are quick to learn.

This also means that Pit Bulls have a mind of their own, which
would sometimes show up as stubbornness. Thus, they can be
harder to train than most other dogs due to their independence.

As an owner you must understand Pit Bull’s
intelligence/stubbornness, handle it well, and you can avoid
problems in disciplining and training this unique breed.

As owners, you must maintain respect between you and your Pit
Bulls. Respect goes both ways.

Respect their intelligence. Love them. Set the rules for
behavior. Trust them. There is no need for extreme measures to
show Pit Bulls that you are the top dog.

Handle their hard-headedness with patient and don’t give up on
their training.

And because they are stubborn, conventional obedience training
may not be the most effective way to get them to listen to you.
Utilize their high play drive for more effective obedience
training.

Conduct “play training” where by the training tasks are made
into fun games and the Pit Bull’s high play drive is used as
motivation. There are a lot of really good books available on
this type of training.

Basically Pit Bulls are intelligent and could be stubborn. So
you have to outwit them! While training your Pit Bull, you have
to make him WANT to do what you want him to. You can’t make him
do stuff unless it is FUN. Otherwise you are wasting both your
time and his.

Your Pit Bull’s favorite activities should become training, so
that training becomes his favorite activity.

Pit Bulls LOVE to play! You will have the happiest Pit Bull in
the world and most obedient if you will just spend some time,
giving them your undivided attention everyday. Otherwise they
feel ignored, bored and will tear or chew things up and will not
listen to you.

Pit Bulls have very powerful jaws. This makes buying toys that
last, not the easiest thing to do.

PawsUp Pet Supply.com has a program for choosing appropriate
toys for your dog’s size, energy level and chewing temperament
means toys last longer which saves you money. Start by
identifying your dog’s breed then click to view our
recommendations.

“They [dogs] never talk about themselves but listen to you while
you talk about yourself, and keep up an appearance of being
interested in the conversation.” – Jerome K. Jerome

Je Dunn
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/are-pit-bulls-an-intelligent-breed-3388.html

Gift Ideas For Pet Lovers

Let’s face it; almost everyone has a few friends who are crazy about their pets. Whether it’s a colleague who’s nuts about his pooch or a dorm mate who can’t live without her kitty, we all know someone who’s really into pets, for one reason or another. And when gift giving time comes, they’re also often the victims of boring, inane presents that just don’t give justice or show any appreciation for their pet-loving personalities.

Come Christmas or any other special occasion, they’re just swamped with the usual package of dog biscuits, treats, or the occasional grooming product. Now, is this all there is to give for your pet-loving friend or family member? C’mon, people, there are loads of other, more fun and more creative gifts to give! If you really want to give a special present this year, I’ve got some great ideas for you.

First Aid kits – We’re sticklers for being prepared for any emergency, and a well-stocked first-aid kit is a must in any home. But what about our pets? They, too, deserve some care and preparation in case they get into an accident, right? You can easily find first-aid kits for pets online, stocked with veterinarian-approved products and medications. These kits also come with instruction booklets for proper first-aid procedures.

Scrapbooks – If you’ve got a friend or family member with a creative eye and a pet lover to boot, then this will be a great gift indeed. Help your pet lover showcase her creativity and affection for her four-legged friend by giving a complete scrapbooking supply kit filled with all the materials she needs to jumpstart her album.

Donations – Making a donation to charitable organizations specializing in animal protection and other related causes should endear you to your pet lover. There are lots of humane societies and organizations, and they are always in need of more funds and supplies to keep their operations running smoothly and effectively.

obedience training – Do you know someone who just cannot make his beloved pet sit and stay? Are you lending a constant ear of sympathy to a friend whose pet is forever misbehaving? Do them a favor and give them a “full scholarship” to obedience school. Dog obedience classes can cost from $100 to $150 for several weekly sessions. You can also get them some private lessons if it’s preferable.

Collar Bling – The special pet needs a special collar, whether it’s a cat or a dog. There are several beautiful collars from a variety of materials to accessorize your pet or that of your friend, or you could just pick up some collar charms that come in all sorts of shapes, styles, and sizes that work just fine.

Knit for A Pet – Knitting pattern books can give your needle-wielding friend a plethora of project ideas, from toys, collars, carrying cases and beds, to create some masterpieces that celebrate the affection and bond between human and pet.

A Day at the Spa – Nowadays, pets need to de-stress too. And what better way than to treat them at a relaxing and comfortable day at the spa? There they can be groomed, cleaned, and relaxed to their hearts’ content. Grooming will cost around $30 to $40, depending on the size and fur length of the pet. They can even enjoy aromatherapy treatments and similar perks at a few luxury establishments.

Syahrul Azlan Idris
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/gift-ideas-for-pet-lovers-136679.html

5 Free Aggressive Dog Training Tips, Dog Aggression Exposed

All dogs need basic dog obedience training. They, like young children, must learn manners. Some dogs bark all of the time, while others show aggressive dog behavior. It is not uncommon to have a dog with behavior problems. So, if your dog is misbehaving, don’t worry: many people are in the same predicament, and there is a solution! A common problem experienced by dog owners is dog aggression. This, as well as other bad dog behaviors, can be put to an end. However, if you want to stop dog behavior problems, you must first comprehend their causes.

Correcting aggressive dogs requires you to first determine the root of their behavior, that is, what is causing the aggression. Is your dog aggressive towards strangers, family members, or both? This is an extremely important question to ask yourself, as the answer has a great impact on prevention and/or treatment.

A dog that is aggressive only towards people he does not know is one that has not undergone socialization. To stop your dog’s aggressive behavior towards strangers, you need help on how to socialize your dog. If your dog displays aggression to members of the family, you need to become familiar with the concepts of resource guarding and dog pack behavior, as they have a great impact on the way your dog behaves. Dogs also show familial aggression when they are improperly handled or treated. Therefore, every person in the family should learn how to handle a dog in a way that is nonthreatening.

Aggressive dog training is not easy without some kind of guidance. There are many books on dog behavior that can help you with dog obedience training as well as teach you how to stop dog behavior problems, such as dog aggression. If you have a disobedient dog, would like to be able to train your dog in the comfort of your own home, and do not want to spend a lot of money on dog training classes, then a book on dog behavior would be a very wise investment.

Begin correcting aggressive dogs with these 5 Tips:

1. Take your puppy to see new people and different places.
2. Make sure your puppy receives lots of physical contact so he can become accustomed to being touched.
3. Make it clear to your dog that You are the one in control.
4. Obedience training lessons must be kept brief, consistent, and occur each day.
5. Rewards should be given to your dog when he behaves, and he should be given a time out when he doesn’t.

J. Walden
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/5-free-aggressive-dog-training-tips-dog-aggression-exposed-749236.html

How to Prevent the Destructive Chewing Behavior of Dogs

With your dogs sharp and pointy teeth, of course all chewing are destructive but what I am referring to destructive chewing is the inappropriate chewing behavior of your dog focused on your own possessions and household items (carpets, bed, clothing, slippers, etc.) instead on his own chew toys. You need to know how to prevent the destructive chewing behavior of your dog.

It is a natural desire for dogs to chew. Some dogs chew because they find it pleasurable and some dogs chew out of nervousness, boredom and loneliness. Chewing is an outlet for his emotions and it is comforting and soothing for him. As a pet owner it is your duty to prevent the destructive chewing behavior of your dog.

Dogs are naturally intelligent creature and you can teach them to stop their destructive chewing behavior. All you need are the right techniques and a little effort. Here are some tips:

Dog proof your home. This is one way to prevent the destructive chewing behavior of your dog. Dogs naturally explore things with their mouth and it is your duty to dog proof your home. Put things (books, camera, remote controls, cell phones etc.) out of his reach. Consider if he can climb or jump to reach the desired object and place your things out of his reach. Do not leave food on the table that he can reach and always clean your plates and do not leave food scrap on the sink.

Confined him in a dog proof area. This will prevent him from destructive chewing behavior. Make him understand that shoes, pillows, furniture, etc. are off limits and illegal to chew. Confined him in his own dog proof area until he understands that there are house rules that he needs to follow and chewing your possessions is not allowed.

Do not confuse your dog. To prevent him from destructive chewing behavior, do not offer him your stuffs that you no longer use like old clothes, shoes etc. to chew and play with. He cannot distinguish the difference between your old stuffs and the stuffs you are still using. Just make him understand that all your stuffs are off limits and illegal to chew.

Give him tasty alternative to your stuffs. Buy him a few chew toys that he can play or chew. There are certain ages for dogs that chewing behavior are more pronounced especially when he is teething. Giving him chew toys and rotating different toys every few days will keep things new and exciting for him and prevent him from destructive chewing behavior.

Give signals and warnings when you caught him chewing your stuffs. Clap your hands or say No to stop him from his destructive chewing behavior. Then hand him his chew toy and as soon as he chew the appropriate alternative, praise him and let him feel that you are happy for his obedience.

Keep your expectations realistic. Always remember that your dog is not perfect and it will take time for him to learn everything and stop his destructive chewing behavior. You have to expect that there will be at least one or few incidents where your stuffs will be damaged by his curiosity.

Do you want to put an end to the stress and annoyance of your dog behavior problems and slash your dog obedience training time in half by using techniques that give you immediate results? For more information on how to stop your dog’s behavior problems like destructive chewing behavior visit Dogs’ Corner

Gerry Restrivera
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/how-to-prevent-the-destructive-chewing-behavior-of-dogs-749567.html

Dog Obedience Tips

Training a new dog or even one which has been part of your family for some time can be time consuming and frustrating at times to say the least, but in the end it’s well worth the trouble and if you stick to it you will surely be satisfied with the results if you follow the techniques correctly. Here are several tips which will help things go much smoother and faster… plus reduce the frustration for both you and your dog, which is always a good thing when it comes to effective dog behaviour training!

Try conducting “play training” – this type of training is where the training tasks are made into fun games and your dog’s natural excitement is used as motivation. This is a really simple yet effective technique and you should really try to include this in your obedience training routine as a must do. There are a lot of really good books available on this type of training which go into good detail on this subject in simple, easy to follow steps. Be careful though, as intelligent dogs can be stubborn, so you may have to outwit them, treats and praise will work wonders for your dog behaviour training.

While training your dog, you have to make him want to do what you want him to (which is obviously the key to any successful dog behaviour training!). However, this is nearly impossible unless it is made fun for the dog, because if your dog doesn’t enjoy it then he/she will not want to do it in the first place and you will most likely just end up wasting both your time and your dog’s.

Another key tip: almost all dogs love to play! You can make your dog the happiest in the land just by spending some time together, providing him with your undivided attention each day. Without this, your dog could feel ignored, bored, or think they’re in trouble. When this happens your dog will be more likely to chew, tear things up, and not listen to you and this will be detrimental to any dog behaviour training progress that you have managed to achieve before and could throw it all out of the window.

To get regular updates on dog training tips and techniques, please subscribe to my RSS feed here: dog behaviour training RSS feed.

Steven James
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/dog-obedience-tips-92054.html

What are your favorite dog books?

What’s your favorite dog book in any or all of these categories?

New puppy book:
General training book:
Breed encyclopedia:
Vet book:
Grooming book:

Conformation book:
Competitive obedience book:
Agility book:
Training theory:

Dog picture book:
Non-fiction dog story:
Fiction dog story:

Genetics book:
Breeding book:

Obviously the list above is not all-encompassing. Just meant to stimulate ideas. Pick the categories of books you read or create your own category (for dog name books or your breed books or Schutzhund books or whatever).
OK, well here’s some of mine I can think of right now.

Favorite non-fiction story: My Dog Skip by Willie Morris. Read this one a long time ago but I remember really enjoying it.

Favorite fiction book: Lochinvar Luck by Albert Payson Terhune (I’m a big fan of dog fiction, but this is one of my faves)

Favorite genetics book: Control of Canine Genetic Diseases by George Padgett. (Really interesting book, believe it or not)

Favorite competitive obedience book: Playtraining Your Dog by Patricia Gail Burnham and Beyond Basic Dog Training by Diane Bauman (but it’s been a few years since I’ve trained competitively. I know there’s a lot of new books out)

Favorite new puppy book: Before & After Getting Your Puppy by Ian Dunbar (but I haven’t read too many of these type)

Favorite all-breed book: Perfect Match by Chris Walkowicz. (Not profusely illustrated, but the descriptions of the breeds are really good.)

New puppy book: Before and After Getting Your Puppy by Ian Dunbar

General training book: The Dog Whisperer by Paul Owens

Vet book: Homeopathic Care for Cats and Dogs – Don Hamilton

Conformation book: Positive Training for Show Dogs – Vicki Ronchette

Competitive obedience book: Clicker Training for Competitive Obedience by Morgan Spector

Agility book: Shaping Success – The Education of an Unlikey Champion – Susan Garrett

Training theory: The Other End of the Leash – Patricia McConnell

Dog picture book: The Bad Dog

Non-fiction dog story: Marley and Me

Fiction dog story: The Call of the Wild – Jack London

Hunting book: The Clicker Gun Dog – Helen Phillips; Positive Gun Dog – Jim Barry

Behavior book: How to Right a Dog Gone Wrong: A Roadmap for Rehabilitating Aggressive Dogs by Pam Dennison; Calming Signals – Turid Rugaas

Does anyone know of a good dog obedience training school where I can send my 1yrold chow/shepherd to in socal?

Its been difficult trying to train my dog for the past few months and I find myself having less time to spend with her right now but that is only temporary. However, I would like to send her off to a dog school where she can spend a couple of weeks learning how to be obedient and great dog. I used to spend a great amount of time working diligent with her by reading books, watching the dog whisperer and other dog training videos and they only seemed to work a handful of times. Please let me know if you have any personal experience with sending your dog off to a training school in SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA and getting great results! Thanks!

Obedience classes are for dogs AND their owners. Find some training classes and MAKE the time to go with your dog. Having someone else train her is completely pointless if you aren’t there as well learning how to handle YOUR dog.

"I used to spend a great amount of time working diligent with her by reading books, watching the dog whisperer and other dog training videos and they only seemed to work a handful of times." all of that time could have been spent in obedience classes with your dog being shown how to train your dog by a LIVE person.

Obedience Training Resolves Bad Dog Behavior in Most Cases

There is nothing worse then a dog that jumps on anyone who walks in the front door, barks all day long, doesn’t listen to your commands, or relieves himself in your house. These are just a few examples of the sorts of bad dog behavior that drives owners crazy. If you are having these types of behavioral problems with you dog then it might be time to try some basic obedience training.

Dogs are very social creatures and they love attention, even if it’s for doing the wrong thing. Dog obedience training is the best way to re-program the way your dog goes about seeking attention because it them a positive outlet to please you. It also teaches them the difference between good and bad behavior because once they understand what you want from them they will always work to earn your praise.

There are two ways to approach training your dog to correct bad behavior; you can do it your self or you can sign up for a dog training class. If you are having a particularly hard time with your dog’s behavior then a class run by a professional trainer may be your best bet. Not only do you get their years of experience working with just about every kind of behavioral problem you also get a chance to find out exactly how to best deal with your dog’s problems. Dog obedience classes also give you the opportunity to socialize your dog with other dogs, which is a big part of solving many of his behavior issues.

If you don’t wish to train your dog in a class setting then you can still use the services of a professional trainer. Many trainers will provide private lessons, either at their place of business or at your home. Again you will get their experience working with all sorts of dogs but it will be more cost prohibitive.

If you would rather train your misbehaving dog yourself there are plenty of resources available to help you. Your local pet or book store will have plenty of books on the subject, some even specific to your particular breed. This can be important because not all breeds respond as well to the same training methods. Getting a better understanding of the intelligence level, mood, and temperament of your dog can give you insight into why he might be misbehaving.

There are also good training methods available on the internet. Most of these are downloadable ebooks written by professional dog trainers. They cover a wide variety of bad behavior problems and give you the insight of a pro without having to pay to see one in person. One of the nice things about going this route is the ability to email the trainers with questions and problems you may be having. This personal touch makes the low cost of these products a good way to go.

Bad dog behavior in the majority of cases is simply a case of a lack of proper obedience training. No matter which training option you choose your chances of turning your misbehaving dog into a model doggy citizen are greatly increased if you take the time to train him properly.

Andrew Bicknell
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/obedience-training-resolves-bad-dog-behavior-in-most-cases-711188.html

How to Obedience Train Your Dog: the Simple Way

SitStayFetch is one of the premier dog training products–which, as we at MyBuyOrTry.com know, is not easy. There are a lot of imitator products and courses out there on how to train your dog, but only a few actually know what they’re talking about.

With a wide variety of real dog training experts and veterinarians behind it, SitStayFetch is the real deal. You get everything from house-training information that works, to proper corrective and obedience training info.

Even better, the course doesn’t teach you rules that only apply to one kind of dog; in fact, they cover specific techniques for handling all kinds of breeds and specific dogs. Which is great for me, because information about dachshunds isn’t going to necessarily help me with my Cocker Spaniel.

The book and course recognize the fact that it may be easy to correct, say, a Golden Retriver–but your nippy Jack Russell is a whole different story!

Included in the course is the comprehensive SitStayFetch Training book; an interactive audio version of the course; great bonus books, particularly “Secrets to Becoming the Alpha Dog”; and something no other dog training course offers: a personalized e-mail consultation (more on this below).

Surprisingly, it doesn’t cost much at all for this: just $37!. On top of that, there’s a two-month money-back-guarantee, and I know there are no questions asked, so you won’t have a problem (but hopefully you don’t need to resort to this measure!).

The service, as well, is top-notch. For no extra cost, we were able to e-mail not one but two long, detailed question about our dog problem. Within a day of each, we got an EXCELLENT reply, with thorough information that was actually specific to our Spaniel. The Support Team seemed genuinely sympathetic, and gave great informaton that solved our dog’s problem pretty quickly.

For that reason alone, we highly recommend Kingdom of Pets Dog Obedience Training. Your dog–and your family–will thank you.

FINAL RATING? Strong Buy It recommendation. Fun, interesting information, particularly about alpha dog training–a whole bonus section.

And at $37, incredibly affordable.

Ethan Parker
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/how-to-obedience-train-your-dog-the-simple-way-107113.html