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Category: Training

Tail Wagging Secrets You Need To Know (Part 1)

Dogs are amazingly social animals that have evolved a pattern of behaviors that are meant to communicate their feelings and emotions to the living things around them. While humans rely mostly on vocalizations and the tone, cadence and volume of their speech to communicate their mood ... (Read more...)

Tail Wagging Secrets You Need To Know (Part 2)

By noticing your dog's tail in different types of settings, activities and environments you can quickly learn to distinguish what your dog is signaling just by the position and movement of the tail. Keep in mind that dogs with docked tails or very short tails, or breeds that carry their tails curled up tightly on their backs such as the Pomeranian, Spitz and Malamutes will have a slightly different method... (Read more...)

Just How Smart Is Your Dog?

As humans we all know that everyone learns differently and there are many different types of intelligence. While most people would agree that dogs are not the same type of "smart" as humans, they are intelligent in their own way. A standardized test for dog intelligence really doesn't make much sense, since different breeds and types of dogs have been bred and trained to enhance specific characteristics, making them naturally better and ... (Read more...)

Dog Obedience: The Basics

Teaching basic obedience skills to a dog can be exciting as well as challenging. Having problems on where to begin? Start by doing your homework. A student can only be as good as his trainer, right?... (Read more...)

Dog Training - Leash & Collar Training

There are many different styles of dog training, and finding the one that works best for you is important for creating a dog that is a talented, loyal and faithful member of the family. All successful methods of dog training work to... (Read more...)

Dog Training - The Basic Commands

There are of course many reasons for owners to want a calm, obedient and faithful dog. For one thing, obedient and trained dogs are happier dogs, less likely to get into tussles with people or with other dogs... (Read more...)

Dog Training For Proper Dog Behavior

There are many reasons for teaching proper dog behavior, and teaching such behavior has many benefits for both the human and canine partners. Dog behavior training is vital to such life and death issues as preventing aggression, controlling dog on dog aggression problems and teaching dogs to interact properly with both their handlers and... (Read more...)

Dog Training With a Head Collar

The head collar has become an increasingly popular dog training tool in the past couple of years. Two of the most well known brands of head collar on the market are the Gentle Leader and the Halti... (Read more...)

Dog Training With a Training Collar or Choke Collar

The basic dog training collar goes by many names, including choke collar, choke chain, training collar, correction collar and slip collar. These training collars are among the most popular and most... (Read more...)

Field Trials For Your Sporting Dog

For those of you who aren't too familiar with the term field trials, it is a sport in which the sporting dog competes under hunting conditions. The dog can pick up the scent of a rabbit or small animal and follow the trail until he's found it. There is also the bird trials where the animal retrieves... (Read more...)

Choosing a Training Collar: How to Decide

Many dog owners find that their efforts toward training their pet are greatly aided by the use of a training collar. There are many types of collars available and each employs a different mechanism meant to... (Read more...)

Winter Dog Agility Training

Depending on where you live, there might be snow on the ground from November through March, but thats no reason to give up your agility training. Bring your training indoors, right at your own home... (Read more...)

Dog Agility Training for Your Puppy

You may be thinking, "When can I start agility training with my new puppy?" You can start immediately, with certain recommendations... (Read more...)

4 to 8 Dog Agility Jumps Makes Ideal Training

"How many jumps should I start with?" You can never have too many single jumps to practice agility. A good starting place is four jumps. This is the absolute minimum number... (Read more...)

Teaching Directional Commands for the Dog Agility Beginner

Playing, training or working your dog is incredibly rewarding. Dogs are generally friendly, responsive, and quick-to-learn. Agility training is a healthy sport... (Read more...)

Puppy Agility Training

You may be asking, "When can I start agility training with my new puppy?" Puppies are always learning, so every time you are with your pup you can be playing and socializing with agility in mind. Always remember, if you can control your puppies environment, you can teach and train the behaviors you want... (Read more...)

Facts about Dog Agility

Dog agility trials are becoming more and more popular the world over. They began in England, as so many good things, do, but "agility fever" quickly spread all over the globe. Now there are clubs and events everywhere... (Read more...)

How to Correct Your Dog's Stay on the Agility Starting Line

Does your Agility Dog Stay everywhere but on the starting line? My "over the edge Border Collie", started breaking her start line stays after about... (Read more...)

Agility Builds Confidence in Your Dog

Is your dog timid around people or other dogs? Is your dog sensitive to sounds? Agility training can provide the environment and structure to build confidence in your dog... (Read more...)

Why Training Your Dog Could be the Best Thing You Can Do for Your Pet

Every observant dog owner can see for himself that his dog gets greater satisfaction from the praise rewarding a well- executed command or good behavior than he does from the momentary excitement of disobeying... (Read more...)

The Basics of Training Your Dog

Canine training is the same as for all animals, you communicate to your dog what you want him to do; when the dog has performed as desired, you reward him. You immediately repeat the exercise a few times and review it frequently until the dog�s response to the command is practically automatic. But of course it isn�t quite as simple as it sounds... (Read more...)

How to Understand & Prevent Dog Fights

Dogs are very active creatures that enjoy being able to run and jump and play. This need for physical activity is usually satisfied by being able to be outside for a specific time every day. Some dogs have no problem... (Read more...)

Why Training Your Dog Could be the Best Thing You Can Do for Your Pet

Most dogs enjoy listening and are proud of the knowledge and skills they acquire. Untrained dogs are seldom as happy as trained ones, and lead much less interesting lives. Many dogs also get a sense of security from obedience and discipline, especially.... (Read more...)

Stop Dog Chewing - Dog Behavior Training.

If you own a dog there's every chance you will encounter dog chewing problems. This article outlines the common reasons why dogs chew, and also how to stop your dog from chewing. (Read more...)

Dog Behavior Training - Stop Your Dog From Jumping Up On People

Dogs jumping up on people is at best an embarrassing and annoying habit, at worst a danger for all involved.What starts out as a cute habit in young puppies can escalate into a big problem that can be difficult to correct. (Read more...)

Training A Puppy To Walk On A Leash

The good thing about training a puppy to walk on a leash is that you can prevent any problems before they eventuate. It's much easier to start leash training early on with a puppy, than to re-train an older dog with established leash behavioral problems. (Read more...)

Training Your Dog To Sit And Stay

One of the first dog obedience commands you will teach is training your dog to sit and stay. This is an important command for you and your dog to master. It will clearly define you as the dominant one in the owner-dog relationship, and will provide a solid foundation for more advanced training later on. (Read more...)

The Secret to Successfully Training Your Dog

Do you have a dog or puppy that is out of control? Do you feel like your living in an expensive dog house under your dogs rule? Well you are not alone, thousands of new puppy and dog owners experience this every year. (Read more...)

How to Establish Your Role As The Pack Leader With Your Dog

Most dogs have what has been termed a team spirit, or "pack" instinct. Dogs live every waking moment of their entire lives by this structure. A dogs mantra is survival, and according to your dog you and your family are all members of his pack. In-order for your dog to feel safe, and secure, he needs to know who is in charge, and it is your job to teach him what you expect. (Read more...)

The Five Things That You Need to Know Before You Begin Training Your Puppy

Believe it or not there is a lot of work that goes into being a good dog trainer, and the majority of it is a mental thing. Just like you and me, puppies have spirits too, that need to be understood, and encouraged in a way that makes sense to your puppy. (Read more...)

Tips to Help You Deal With Your Puppies Separation Anxiety

One thing that puppies really hate is separation. If it was up to them they would be by your side at all times. But as much as we wish that they could be, alas they can't go with us everywhere. Puppies that are suffering from separation anxiety have a tendency to chew destructively, soil the house, bark excessively, or act out in other ways that are destructive. (Read more...)

Have An Easier Time Training Your Dog

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Turn Your Dog into the Perfect Family Companion

Whether you are training your dog yourself, or hiring someone else to train it, there are 5 basic commands that every dog must master. These include sit, stay, down, and heel. One of the most important ones, however...... (Read more...)

Dog obedience training

Which dog owner won't feel proud of his disciplined dog? Reversely, who won't feel ashamed of an unruly dog? (Read more...)

Caring For Your Dog

Dogs are social animals that have worked with humans for thousands of years. They have played an important role in various different cultures. (Read more...)

Raising Puppies: Be Positive

Bringing home the puppy home is one of the most enjoyable things that you can enjoy with the young puppy. After that, you are now thrusts into the role of a mother hen or an alpha male type of owner to raise the dog properly. (Read more...)

The Courage Test at the Sieger Show.

The history and the Standard of the German Shepherd Dog are, and should be, intimately related to the �parent club� of the breed. If one does not agree with that underlying principle of almost everything concerning the breed, then unity in the sport and identification as a breed will suffer. An English Springer Spaniel that does not look anything like the historic or the British dog perhaps should have �English� dropped from its name in countries where breed type has strayed significantly. The Australian Cattle Dog, if it starts looking like a Whippet after drifting in Transylvania, should not retain that name. If some of the Yanks or the Brits want a different breed than the internationally traditional GSD, let them call theirs the Alsatian or something else, rather than the German Shepherd. (Read more...)

Teach the Retrieve with Clicker

Here is my method of teaching fetch to a puppy using a clicker. (Read more...)

Management

Management is another word for controlling the environment. It involves making changes in your dog�s immediate living conditions and situations. Management will help you to PREVENT some problems from happening, especially with a puppy or young dog. (Read more...)

RETRACTABLE LEASH SAFETY

Retractable leashes can come in very handy for exercising your dog in safe places. They let your dog run around a bit at a distance while still being attached to you, without the leash getting tangled. But you need to be aware that they do have a dangerous aspect. (Read more...)

THINK DOG

Your dog sees the world differently than we do. If we learn to "think dog", we can avoid some kinds of trouble (especially with dogs and small children) and communicate with our dogs more easily. (Read more...)

Two Sides to Everything - Part 2

I would say that the easiest exercise to practice with an arm on the right is the hold and bark. It does not involve a lot of mechanics from the helper. The picture of the helper with the sleeve on the left is a familiar one. (Read more...)

Two Sides to Everything - Part 1

A good foundation is where everything starts. I've covered foundation topics over the past few months and looking back, I think I missed something. The reason for that is probably because what I will discuss in this article may not become an issue until later in a dog's career. (Read more...)

Tell Me About Your Dog! - Part 5

This brings me to the end of the discussion of fighting ?drive?. The major contributing components I have been able to isolate are the six I just described: prey drive, defense drive, frustration aggression, social aggression, dominance behavior, and rage. (Read more...)

Tell Me About Your Dog! - Part 4

There are a few more points I'd like to mention regarding defense drive. I strongly believe that these three defense drive categories are pre-determined and that this predetermination sets limits to how much we can change through training. Comments like we need to put more defense into this dog make me cringe and feel sorry for the dog. (Read more...)

Tell Me About Your Dog! - Part 3

I believe that reading dogs is one of the most important parts of dog training. In part one of this article I tried to address general qualities in dogs that we hear often when dogs and their training are discussed. (Read more...)

Tell Me About Your Dog! - Part 2

Nerve has become a catch phrase for almost everything. Good nerve, bad nerve, weak nerve, strong nerve, thin nerve, thick nerve. Where do these terms come from? And more importantly, what do they mean? (Read more...)

Tell Me About Your Dog! - Part I

The SV celebrates 100 years this year, so for all intents and purposes Schutzhund training has been around for close to 100 years as well. In that time countless books have been written, and even more seminars have been taught, and let's not even start on how many conversations and discussions were held late into the night on the topic of dog training. (Read more...)

SEPARATION ANXIETY

Dogs with separation anxiety exhibit extreme behavior problems when they are left alone. The most common behaviors are destruction of property (sometimes injuring themselves in the process), especially around doors or windows, howling and barking, and urination and defecation from distress. (Read more...)

Helmut Raiser's View on Which Drives Are Useful During Protection Training

Prey-drive, defense-drive, fighting-drive, etc. are the catch phrases of modern protection training. They are thrown around at every seminar we attend, they are the subjects of countless articles, but rarely do people agree on what is being said about these "drives." (Read more...)

Protection Obedience: a Closer Look - Part 2

The dog needs to learn to accept guidance from the handler. The key word here is guidance. The way many dogs act the first time an obedience exercise is asked of them in protection, I would say it is not disobedience that is happening. (Read more...)

Protection Obedience: a Closer Look - Part 1

Again, I have to go by my observations on the training field. Once protection training begins, obedience is not given very much thought. Oh, don't misunderstand me, we all demand it. Hell, we need it to get our titles. The dog needs to be obedient during protection, we all know that. (Read more...)

ELECTRONIC ( INVISIBLE ) FENCING

Electronic fences (also known as "invisible fencing") have become popular in some areas. One advantage is cosmetic-- you can't see the fence, so it is allowable in housing areas that prohibit regular fences. (Read more...)

Problem Solving in the Hold and Bark

After my last article I was really stumped for my next topic. There are so many things one can write about. But with a lot of topics I found that a magazine article would either be too general and not of any great value or way too long and detailed to go into a magazine. (Read more...)

Defense Drive Promotion

In the last two articles I had the opportunity to discuss Prey Drive Promotion. I feel that protection training should always begin there. (Read more...)

DEFENSE BEHAVIOR

Unlike most dog events, working dog competitions are not so much a test of how well a dog can do a particular exercise, but a more fundamental examination of the dog's temperament. (Read more...)

Protection for the Working Class

The following outline will hopefully make the protection phase for the Working Class dogs in the show more consistent and allow handlers to know exactly what is expected. (Read more...)

CRATES

The problem with dog crates is convincing people that crating a dog is not cruel and unusual punishment! (Read more...)

COUNTER CRUISING

Several of my students have asked how to manage a dog that jumps on the counter when the owner is either in or out of the room, and clears all the contents. (Read more...)

Building Drive in Obedience

Discussions over the last few years regarding the protection phase center around active and reactive aggression. In these discussions the importance of having a dog initiate the work is generally agreed to by most. (Read more...)

Bitesuit-work for Schutzhund Dogs

A few weeks ago I got into a bit of a debate with another trainer over the fact that I did bitesuit work with a dog who is destined to be a competitive Schutzhund dog. (Read more...)

The 2004 SV/WUSV/FCI Rules for the BH Qualification

Participants who for the first time enter a BH trial and who have not furnished appropriate proof of this special experience, must pass a specified written examination before the date of the event, to the satisfaction of the trial judge, before they and their dogs are tested in the practical part. (Read more...)

DRIVES

The term, drive, when used in dog training is a departure from the behavioral scientist's understanding of the concept. (Read more...)

OBEDIENCE

DEFENSE BEHAVIOR

Unlike most dog events, working dog competitions are not so much a test of how well a dog can do a particular exercise, but a more fundamental examination of the dog's temperament. (Read more...)

Protection for the Working Class

The following outline will hopefully make the protection phase for the Working Class dogs in the show more consistent and allow handlers to know exactly what is expected. (Read more...)

Do You Know the Basic Steps?

Tired of tired obedience or a dog having a nervous breakdown on the track? In this article I would like to go back and question the very fundamentals of how many dog trainers approach their task and see just where the problem is. (Read more...)

Conditioning for the Ausdauerpr�fung (AD)

This article outlines an example program and provides some tips for preparing for and participating in the AD (Ausdauerpr�fung)with your schutzhund dog. (Read more...)

Trial Handling Tips for Rules as of 2004 - Part 11

Tracking for the SchH 3 is 600 paces and laid by a stranger with four corners and five legs. Points for the articles and corners on the SchH 3 track are different and you should understand these changes. (Read more...)

Trial Handling Tips for Rules as of 2004

Why are some people good handlers? This question is asked all the time. Some people are more coordinated than others, some do many tasks at once, some people can see mistakes or problems and correct them at any given notice or through training, and some people retain more knowledge. All of these things and more make any one person a good handler. Here are some hints on successful trialing. (Read more...)

Simply Obedience: Sit means sit.

I have created my own philosophy in obedience. (Although I am sure I just reinvented the wheel.) When teaching people in my club, I have found this to be the best way to explain what I need from them. This obedience theory is good for all three phases: obedience, tracking, and protection. I will address obedience in this article. There are many good and great obedience trainers that use a myriad of different methods. (Read more...)

The Dumbbell Retrieve:

First off, the dumbbell is an incredibly important part to the obedience phase of a schutzhund routine. Out of a 100 point Schutzhund 1 obedience routine, the dumbbell is worth 25 points. In the Schutzhund 2 and 3 it is worth 40 points out of a 100. This just demonstrates the importance of a good dumbbell retrieve. (Read more...)

NBHA Amateur Championship Trial

In Alabama for the first time, the National Bird Hunters Association, NBHA, got together at the Parches Cove Hunting Preserve, outside of Union Grove. Hunters from all over the South and Midwest, as far as the eastern seaboard, Texas, and Iowa, drove their horse trailers and dog carriers to this beautiful valley to compete in one of their most important annual events. (Read more...)

The 2004 SV/WUSV/FCI Rules for the BH Qualification

COMPANION DOG AND BEHAVIOR/TEMPERAMENT TEST, WITH TRAFFIC SURENESS AND OTHER SPECIAL EXPERIENCE(Begleithund & Verhaltens Test, BH/VT) (Read more...)

Schutzhund-Versatility Test Level-1 (SchH-1/VPG-1) for working dogs.

This is a translation by Fred Lanting of the official Schutzhund-Versatility Test Level-1 (SchH-1/VPG-1) for working dogs. (Read more...)

Getting a Grip

At my seminars, I like to address specific training issues the dog handlers feel is their dogs' weakest point in protection. I would say that with the dogs who have already had some protection training, the single most mentioned problem is the issue of gripping technique. (Read more...)

Let�s Talk Breeding and Training

The title of this article stems from a discussion list or website group in the U.K. with the name �Let�s Talk Breeding�. One of its subscribers said she couldn�t �sit by and listen to foolishness without speaking up.� (Read more...)

Canine Behaviour

Travelling in search of information on training has provided many opportunities to broaden my understanding of canine behaviour. (Read more...)

Training Tables - A Place for Learning

Training tables have been around in one form or another for longer than any one can document. Some caveman, tired of bending over to get to a pup, probably hoisted it onto a rock and gave it a pet or a bit of food, and the training table concept was born. Well, maybe that's a stretch, but then fact is often stranger than fiction. (Read more...)

SUBMISSIVE URINATION

Submissive urination is NOT a house-training problem. It is exhibited during greetings, either because the dog instinctively feels a need to show submission, or when the dog loses control due to being excited. (Read more...)

Prey Drive Promotion, Part II

Like everybody else who has been involved with dogs for a while, I am certainly aware that training does not always follow the steps outlined in books or videos. (Read more...)

Prey Drive Promotion, Part I

I like to start prey work as early as possible with puppies, usually around ten to twelve weeks old. This allows me to work with all the unspoiled inborn instincts of the dog. I start young puppies the same way I start late starting adults, with a rag or a sack. (Read more...)

MOUTHING

OUCH! Does your pup leave teeth marks on your hands from play? A young dog often tries to play with his human family the same way he would play with other dogs. (Read more...)

JUMPING UP

Let's look at this from the dog's point of view. Fido is so happy to see you, and he naturally wants to get close to your face, so he does what comes naturally -- he jumps up. And guess what - chances are, he has been rewarded many times for his jumping behavior! (Read more...)

TEACHING YOUR DOG TO "GIVE"

First of all, recognize that you have an obligation to prevent problems by using good management of the environment. A puppy sees the whole world as her chew toy. You need to puppy proof the area where your young dog will be, and to provide appropriate chew toys for her. (Read more...)

Pat's "NO FREE LUNCH" Program for Problem Dogs

This program is intended for any dog that has an "Attitude". It is just as important for a fearful dog as it is for a bully type. Either type of dog will benefit from learning that YOU will make decisions for him or her. (Read more...)

Digging

Dogs dig for a variety of reasons -- to bury or recover bones, dig up prey, to make cooling pits and even as means of escape from a boring environment. (Read more...)

When Judges Get Lost
Breeders Will Too

Denny Kodner has unfortunately given us cause for using mixed metaphors she has not only missed the boat, but she has gone off the deep end. (Read more...)

Canine Behaviour

Travelling in search of information on training has provided many opportunities to broaden my understanding of canine behaviour. Understanding canine behaviour is the essential ingredient in developing training programs which will produce a dog that works correctly and enthusiastically. (Read more...)

CONTROLLED WALKING

One of the most important things for your dog to learn is to walk on a leash without pulling. This makes walking the dog much more enjoyable for both you and the dog. If the dog is pulling walking is unpleasant and he gets walked far less often -- this makes him pull all the more because he needs the exercise even more. A vicious cycle. (Read more...)

LEADERSHIP TRAINING

Dogs are pack animals with a highly developed sense of social structure. One reason they make such wonderful companions is be-cause they instinctively accept their human family as their pack. However, dogs are also born with the instinct to try to become the pack leader, and if you and your family do not assume a leadership position over the dog, he is likely to try to take over and rule you, his pack, by himself. (Read more...)

SOME BASIC TRUTHS ABOUT DOG TRAINING

Your dog is always learning, by observation, trial and error, 24 hours a day whe her you are with him or not. (Read more...)

DRIVES

The term, drive, when used in dog training is a departure from the behavioral scientist's understanding of the concept. (Read more...)

Lou's Stake Out Test

My Stake Out Test is designed to test the potential canine (k9) to see what drives he operates in during stressful situations. (Read more...)

Training & Development - Prey Drive Promotion

Following the popular response to Armin Winkler�s introduction to drives in protection training published in a previous issue he was asked to continue discussing the drives used in protection training in a series of articles. (Read more...)

House Training Puppies.

House training your puppy begins long before you bring him/her home. Not soiling his quarters is both an instinctual quality as well as a learned behavior. (Read more...)

FAQs About Selecting a Working Dog Puppy

This FAQ is designed to help you select a promising pup for working in Schutzhund, and can be adapted to many other levels of dog sports. (Read more...)

PREY BEHAVIOR

In the first installment, defense in its many forms was examined with the conclusion that this very complex behavioral response demands the highest skills from the protection trainer. (Read more...)

Sensory, Emotional and Social Development of the Young Dog Part 3

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Sensory, Emotional and Social Development of the Young Dog Part 2

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Sensory, Emotional and Social Development of Young Dog Part 1

In our Western culture, the relation between humans and dogs is played out in a historical and socio-economic context that fosters the emergence of behavioral dysfunctions in animals (the discrepancy between the imagined dog and reality). (Read more...)

Food Refusal Training

This is a common use of the training collar, aversion training with a twist. The twist is that you not only want the dog not to eat stray piece of food, but that you also must train that it�s O.K. to eat under certain circumstances. (Read more...)

Volhard's Puppy Aptitude Test

This is the Volhard's Puppy Aptitude Test. You can download a printable copy as well. (Read more...)

The Trial Helper

It is a thankless task! If, in a trial, a handler receives 100 points in protection, he has done an excellent job of training the dog. (Read more...)

How Dogs Think?

Have you ever seen a device or a program designed to correct a dog behavior problem that explained how smart dogs are and how they think? Most plans or gadgets enable owners, literally, to declare war on their hapless pets. Little or no concern is afforded to what the dogs happen to think about them. In fact, the implication is that dogs don't think at all ... (Read more...)

The Schutzhund Sport

SCHUTZHUND is a German word meaning "protection dog" It refers to a sport that focuses on developing and evaluating those traits in dogs that make them more useful and happier companions to their owners. (Read more...)

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