Get morning exercise!

When it comes to training your dog, we sometimes have to remember that also have to train ourselves. A dog that has a good "pack leader" living with him or her will need to know that you are consistent in the boundaries you set, as well as consistent with the habits you establish. That's why it's so important to have a real, written action plan so that you - and your dog - never get knocked off course.

Morning - Exercise (typically at least a 30 minute walk).

Exercise is crucial for your dog - not only will your dog shed fat and gain lean muscle, but your dog also needs the mental boost that exercise gives. Exercise helps to stave off depression, anxiety, and even aggression. If you keep your exercise habits consistent, both you and your dog can add years to your life.

Why exercise in the morning? Because as soon as you skip a walk or two, the procrastination bug sets in. You don't want to add "walk the dog" to your list of chores to do later that day or evening, so get it out of the way. If you don't want to put off breakfast, simply grab a banana and head out there.

Afternoon - Training.

If you're new to the world of dog training, you might want to start with the small things, like learning how to sit on command. Training your dog doesn't have to be a highly involved process - simply take five or ten minutes after you come home from work and start implementing a new command. If the dog does what you ask, then you can present it with a treat - but make sure not to try and "bribe" your dog. Making this part of your daily routine will teach your dog that if it presents the desired behavior on a consistent basis, it will earn a reward.

Evening - Relaxation or play time.

Again, just a brief span of time - say fifteen minutes - can help your dog feel loved and appreciated with some quality playing time. If you have children, involve them in this time, as well. Shut off the tube, head outside, and play a little fetch. while you toss your kids the pigskin.

A dog shouldn't feel like it's "his" playtime. Instead, he should feel happy to be part of what you or your family is doing. It's a subtle distinction, but an important one that will help you raise a healthy and happy dog.

Photo Credits: Emery_Way

Riding with your dog.

For dogs, riding in a car can be a fun and thrilling experience, especially when traveling with an owner or someone very familiar. Putting a head outside the window and feeling the strong wind is a favorite of many larger dogs who aren't used to the speed of a car. For other dogs, however, riding in a car can be a difficulty, and this just makes life harder on owners who simply want to travel with their dog or take their dog to see the vet. If you've had some trouble with a dog who's nervous about riding in a car, here are three tips that might help you.

Tip #1: Make riding in the car a casual thing. Dogs get much of their cues on how to behave from their human owners, who might feel anxious about taking a dog in a car because it's such a novel experience. Remember that the anxiety starts in the mind, not in the car itself. If you want to have your dog relaxed in your car, make the car a regular part of its environment.

This is especially easy if you've already taken your dog everywhere - you'll probably notice that the dog has no problems due to repeated exposure to the car. If your dog has less car experience, however, you can simply open up your car on a sunny day and play with your dog in it - you don't even have to drive anywhere. Simply open up all of the doors and go inside. This will help your dog get used to the idea of being in the car.

Tip #2: Make the car a positive experience. If your dog has been able to get into a car and relax while you're driving, it's the time to give them a treat. Remember that dogs will eventually learn to associate certain behaviors with rewards if you constantly give them rewards for achieving something. This doesn't mean you should bribe your dog into your car: rather, take out a treat after the dog has gotten into the car and is relaxing as you drive. A simple piece of bacon in your pocket can be produced and your dog will eventually get the hint that the car can be a positive experience.

Tip #3: Get as much experience as you can. If you're raising a puppy, try to bring your dog along on errands - let them stay inside while you make a quick trip into the bank, for example. This will help the dog to be "raised" along with the car and they'll never think there's anything unusual about it.

Following these tips, you'll be able to help your dog travel calmly with your family. Make sure to remember that your dog responds best to consistency over time, so stay persistent.

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Leader of the pack.

First, understand that dogs respond to pack leaders. It doesn't really care if you're a dog or not - it will respond to commanding behavior from a human. If your dog is constantly aggressive, always lashing out, and frequently ignores your commands, it's safe to say that your dog doesn't respect you as a leader. Many dog owners would prefer to be friends with their dog. What they don't realize is that the dog sees this submissive behavior and begins to think that it is the leader. Who's the leader? You are, and that's why you need to train yourself to be one.

Second, you have to know how to be a pack leader. The first rule to establishing yourself as a leader is having a code of conduct for your dog. If your dog does something you don't like, do you simply yell at it, but never correct the behavior? The dog doesn't know what your words mean, so there's a good chance it will end up displaying the behavior again. However, if you have a code of conduct and your dog violates it, you should get up and correct the behavior - sometimes, simply standing or sitting up and being firm is enough. The bottom line is that your dog should know that you are willing to enforce certain standards of behavior.

A dog that sees it has limits with you will begin to understand that you are the leader. So you have to train yourself to be consistent. Only reward dogs after they have produced a behavior you want, and have done so calmly. Don't ever "bribe" a dog to do something - people bribe political leaders; is your dog a political leader? No. You're the leader in your house, and you get to say when the rewards are doled out: when actions have been completed to your satisfaction. Treat yourself like the leader, and the dog will follow. Then you can train the dog with less effort.

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Sit. Stay.

Many people have not learned the fundamentals of dog training and obedience that would help them to expand on these principles and teach a dog tricks. Instead, simply desiring to teach a dog a trick, many people ignore the fundamentals of dog training and forget that there are supposed to be clearly-defined roles. Many times, it's not the dog's problem; it might be that you haven't been clear and consistent in your training.

The concept of training yourself along with your dog means that you're going to have to exert some energy in order to have a better relationship with your dog, as well. It's a two-way street. Not only is the dog going to have to behave better, but you're going to have to take a more dominant role in shaping that behavior.

That means a few things.

First, many people are simply too easy on their dogs.

It's an interesting concept, but in the politically-correct world we live in, it's too easy to associated boundary-setting with abuse. There's a strong difference, and when it comes to your dog, you might have to be more dominant and commanding with it than you originally thought. Why is this? Because the dog has been bred over thousands of years to be a worthwhile but subservient companion to human beings. It knows that its role is to be this companion, and the problems begin on your end, when you aren't assertive enough.

Being assertive means setting boundaries, but not lashing out at the dog.

For example, how would you treat a newborn child crawling on the wrong floor if the child didn't know any better? Chances are, you wouldn't get angry: instead, you'd simply lift the child back to the right place to be. This is something you can do with dogs, too. And it's something you'll have to work on by yourself: knowing where the boundaries are, and being able to remain cool and relaxed even when the dog pushes your buttons.

Training dogs isn't the only answer: you'll also have to train yourself to have the skills and assertiveness required to raise a healthy dog.

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No Begging!

1. Set limits.

One of the most crucial aspects to dog training is setting limits for what your dog can and cannot do. Once your dog engages in a behavior that you find undesirable, you have to consistently and persistently correct that behavior. Note that I said "correct" and not "punish." This is because a dog might not know what it's being punished for - instead, you'll want to stop your dog from begging from removing it from the dinner area. If necessary, tie the dog up on a leash or put it in a kennel, just so it learns it is not welcome during this time.

2. Do not reward the dog.

If you give a dog a treat, you are rewarding a behavior it has produced. This is the essence of dog training, and it's the essence of the mistake that you make when you give a dog a reward for begging. What does the dog learn when you reward it after it begs? That begging is a desirable behavior if it wants to get a treat. You couldn't make a bigger mistake. Instead, give the dog a minimal amount of your time - remember that affection is a reward, too, and giving your dog affection because of begging will have a similar reinforcing effect.

3. Work on commands.

You should be working on a few single-syllable commands for your dog, including "down" and maybe even "out" with a point to show your dog that it should leave. Use these commands when you are at the dinner table and use them consistently - remember that you shouldn't give a command and then be inconsistent about how the dog should behave. If the dog won't remove itself, you should remove it. Reinforcing a dog's behavior after it disobeys a command will only show the dog what it can get away with.

You can't afford to have a soft spot for your dog, because your dog will exploit that for treats. Instead, you have to give your dog affection at the right times - when it is calm, submissive, and relaxed - and reserve the treats for when it accomplishes something more healthy.

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C

So how do you get a dog to come when called? Is it a simple matter of trickery? In this article we'll look at how to get your dog to respond when called.

The first rule of working with dogs is consistency.You want the dog to know exactly what to expect when you call him or her. This means that you'll have to give a similar call each time - a simple, firm "C'mere, Rex!" should be sufficient. When you make this call, you want your dog to show up enthusiastically, or at least not mope its way into the room.

Remember that you can't correct a dog negatively in this situation - it won't know what you're punishing it for. If you punish a dog because it didn't respond to a call, there might be a possibility that it simply didn't know what you meant when you said "C'mere!" This is why you'll want to be as consistent as possible. A dog should recognize even the tone of voice you use when you call, and this will require some consistency on your part.

But what do you do with the dog itself?

You can't punish the dog, but you can try to steer its behavior the right way. Make sure that you use a similar call word each time - "C'mere!" as listed before. If a dog doesn't come when this happens, don't get angry or frustrated. Simply correct the dog's behavior by physically bringing it - either by lifting up or by a leash - to where you originally called it, while saying your call word. You want the dog to recognize that call word refers to its presence near you. Eventually, as you practice this, the dog will make the connection that when you say "C'mere!" that you want the dog to be next to you.

Don't stop this kind of practice simply because it's working. Persistence will be paramount to your success - and it's your job to enforce the rules here. A dog won't be as likely to respect your commands unless it knows that if it doesn't come when you call it, you'll come and get it. When a dog hears a tone of authority behind your voice, it is far more likely to respond better.

Photo Credits: Emery_Way

wow

Bringing up a new dog in your family environment means that you'll see the dog grow up alongside your family. But it also means you have a lot of responsibility to make sure that dog grows up happy, healthy, and exhibits controllable behavior. So it's time to learn how to housebreak your puppy in the most effective way possible.

Tip #1: Like humans, dogs are creatures of habit.

You won't get anywhere unless you can be consistent with your puppy and being consistent means that you'll have to follow through yourself. You can't let the puppy "slip one by" by any means; this will just communicate to the dog that your rules can be broken. That's the last thing you want your actions to say. Instead, remain consistent. Unless you can build up a new habit for yourself, you can't expect to build one up for your puppy, either.

Tip #2: Taking your dog outside isn't enough.

You have to remember that dogs don't speak English, nor can they read your thoughts. Just because you're bringing a dog outside doesn't mean it will know what your intentions are. Rather, you should work on stopping your dog at the point of using the bathroom and make sure that it goes outside. Keep the dog on a leash initially if you have too much trouble with it. You can't "convince" a dog to do something; you can only work with its habits in real-time.

Tip #3: Watch the puppy's preexisting habits and work around them.

If you notice that your puppy has to use the bathroom at a specific time in the morning, this would be a good time to take the dog outside for a small walk or simply moving around in the yard. This will help the puppy to begin associating the outdoors with using the bathroom. Once your dog makes this association, you might notice that it begins to wait until you let it outside in order to go. Congratulations! Your dog is housebroken.

Remember that with dogs, actions speak louder than words, and consistent actions will determine your amount of success. Don't try to convince or bribe your dog to make the right decision; guide it so that it makes simple associations like "outside" and "bathroom."

Photo Credits: Scarleth White

Do you make any of these common mistakes?

Mistake #1: Taking out your frustration on the dog.

Dogs respond intuitively to human behavior. Having been bred alongside humans for thousands of years, many dog breeds are simply wired to work well with humans, giving them the title of "man's best friend." But because dogs have this kind of intuition, we expect too much from them. Remember: your dog doesn't speak English. Although a few key words - like the dog's name - will be picked up over time, you simply can't let yourself get frustrated because a dog doesn't respond to you.

Frustration leads to many more dog training mistakes, so nip it in the bud. Have some patience and understand that the dog might even be trying the best that it can.

Mistake #2: Treating the dog like a human friend.

Dog's might be "man's best friend," but that doesn't mean a dog should be your best friend. Sure, many people get dogs because they like their loyalty, friendship, and the bond that forms. But it ends there. A dog cannot replace a human being in your life, and you shouldn't treat a dog like a person.

This doesn't mean that you shouldn't treat your dog with respect. It simply means you treat it as it is: your dog. Respect your dog as a dog, and the clearly-defined roles in the house will be much healthier for you and your pets.

Mistake #3: Lack of persistence.

Ask yourself one question: is it easy for you to pick up a new habit right away? No? Then why should you expect that a dog will?

Dogs need conditioning, just like people, in order to change their habits. If you want to instill your dog with a good habit, then tackle that habit with persistence on a daily basis. The dogs will eventually know when it's "time to walk," for example, and will eventually respond much more attentively.

If you avoid these three mistakes, you'll be well on your way to understanding how to train your dog. Just remember to be patient and persistent when you try to teach your dog how to behave and you should do absolutely fine.

Photo Credits: MoonSoleil

Dog Treats

The first principle of using treats to train your dog is to learn that you can't really bribe your dog to do anything. It doesn't understand that when you produce a piece of bacon and start shouting a new command, you're expecting it to perform an act. Remember that dogs don't speak English - they tend to learn through associations. So instead of bribing your dog with a treat, start to watch for the desired behavior, and then reward the dog for it.

When you use this principle, this means you'll actually "produce" the treat once a dog has given you the desired behavior. It might work to hold up a piece of bacon and say "sit!" but it won't actually help you train it very well. This is because the dog might already be aware of what "sit" is associated with. When you consistently give a dog a reward for a desired behavior, it will start to realize that this behavior produces positive results, leading to more instances of the desired behavior.

Don't use treats as motivation unless you're actually looking to teach your dog more difficult tricks. Why? Not because the treat helps them teach, but because the treat can be used to motivate them to an action that you want them to re-produce. If you want a dog to jump through a hoop, you can put a treat behind the hoop and say "jump!" After the dog jumps, it is then allowed to have the treat. Remember to wait until the behavior has been produced before you provide the treat.

Many people find it tempting to use treats as a way of winning a dog's affection, but really treats can't buy a dog's respect. A dog will definitely become more interested in you if you have something to give it, but this doesn't mean that you're training it well. Remember that you're in command, and don't let a dog's persistence coerce you into giving up a treat, especially if its behavior is not acceptable.

Photo Credits: Reenie-Just Reenie

Dog outside at night.

Wakeup time. Upon waking, you and your dog head out for a morning walk or a jog. If you're not exercising daily, this is something you need to take up regardless of whether or not you own a dog. Stick to this routine every day, and at least do some form of exercise with your dog for a good thirty minutes to an hour. This will keep both of your moods stable and balanced throughout the rest of the day. Note: Make it clear that this is your run, not your dog's run. Do this by walking out of the door first to enter and exit your home.

Feeding time. After the workout, if your dog has been calm and relaxed, feed it a treat and then its breakfast. Remember not to produce any reward for your dog - don't even present it to them just to see until they are behaving the way you want them to behave. Wait until your dog is calm and relaxed before you put down the bowl of dog food. This will happen a few times a day.

Training time. Presumably, after you've exercised and fed your dog, you had to go to work. After returning home, accept the dog's affection but don't reward any intrusive behavior like the dog crawling on you. Tend to your family and your own needs first: dinner, conversation, etc. Once you've got some free time, take one behavior you'd like to train into your dog and work on that for fifteen minutes to a half an hour.

Play time. At the end of a full day, it's time to simply enjoy some leisure with you, your dog, and your family. A great way to entertain a dog is to give it "dog" things to do: have it fetch sticks, chase a ball, or accompany you on an adventure into the woods.

Night time. Once the day is over, make sure the dog goes into its designated spot - correct it by giving it a stern verbal warning and directing it back to its spot. If you've previously done training (rewarding your dog in the morning, for example, for a calm night of sleeping where it was supposed to sleep), you shouldn't have many problems here.

Photo Credits: Ed.ward