photo credit: Sugar PondHistory would show that just like humans, dogs were also given formal training. It may not be as comprehensive as what we learn in school due to the difference in intellect, but nonetheless, they were still given their own form of education. This tradition has carried until today were dog owners want their pets to be properly trained. But since doing it on your own can be a taxing job, dog training schools were set-up to help you hone your pet’s skills and maintain discipline.

Now for the uninitiated, dog training schools don’t operate like our schools do where there’s a teacher trying to train a classroom full of kids. While it’s possible to implement this system with people, when it comes to dogs, training needs to be more personal and hands-on. That means dogs enrolled in a training school are given their own personal trainer to help them enhance their skills. The benefit of doing this is that the trainer is able to focus solely on molding the dog without being distracted by other animals. This makes training more effective and efficient.

Aside from providing the dog with its own trainer, these schools have a set program or course prepared for your pets depending on your needs. You can start off with a basic program that consists of simple lessons from teaching your dog how to “sit” or “stay still.” Now if your pet happens to master all these skills already, you have an option to have them undergo specialized training which can help them become better guard animals at home.

A dog training school can do a lot for both you and your dog. Not only can it help cultivate a better relationship between the two of you, you’ll also have peace-of-mind knowing that you won’t have to come home to a messed-up house courtesy of your canine pal.

Dog training schools are great not only for dogs but also for people who want to make training dogs their lifelong career. These schools offer dog owners assistance in training puppies and adult dogs. They help make dogs become more obedient and more lovable to their owners. In addition, they may offer programs to people who want to learn the different techniques of canine training.

Being a professional dog trainer is a fulfilling and exciting career, particularly for those who are extremely passionate about dogs. With the right skills and knowledge, an individual can significantly make a good living out of this career. Pay range for training puppies and adult dogs may range from $100 to a thousand dollar or more for a four-week session alone. Many highly skilled and reputable dog trainers have enjoyed great financial stability with this kind of career.

To become successful in this type of venture, a person has to have the right combination of skills and knowledge required for training different kinds and breeds of dogs. There are certain techniques used by professionals to train the dogs and puppies of their clients. There are CDs sold online that offer individuals information on canine training but oftentimes, the techniques included in the CDs only cover basic techniques. There may also be institutions offering people online tutorials, but the knowledge that may be learned in these types of learning process may be limited.

For people who want to become real professional dog trainers, enrolling in a physical or actual dog training school is the way to go. In these schools, they are guided by real professionals in the field. They are able to see with their very own eyes how the dog is trained, and therefore learn from it. Moreover, they may be given the opportunity to learn by actually training a dog themselves. In addition, they may be closely guided by their instructors on the technical aspect of dog and puppy training. The guidance and close monitoring offered in actual schools is what is missing in online institutions. With actual schools, instructors are there to oversee and correct a trainee if what he or she is doing is wrong. With online tutorials, actual training cannot be done.

There are three types of training programs that may be offered by these training schools to aspiring dog trainers. These are group classes, one to one sessions, and in-kennel training. These programs offer comprehensive training to students so they can become excellent dog trainers upon completion of the course.

Housebreaking a dog is the first thing that comes in the mind of a new dog owner. A dog has to be given some kind of basic obedience training from early age and housebreaking is the most important out of them.  Dogs are basically habit forming animals and once they get into a routine, they form a habit out of it which is relatively harder to change. So it makes more sense to train them right from the beginning to avoid and confusion and problems later.

An important part of training is to let your dog know about what is to be done in a certain situation. Training is a form of communication between the dog and his owner.  You may have to tell him at first, slowly he will start relating things. You should have some basic knowledge about dog behavior which will help you train your dog easily. There are many tricks you can use for housebreaking a dog. Mark a spot where your dog can go and relieve himself and take him to that spot whenever he has to go for it. Usually he will feel the need to for potty or urination, when he wakes up from sleep or after the meals.

Keep a fixed time and slowly get him to follow a schedule. Slowly he will start relating that place and his timing for his toilet time. This is the basic fundamental of housebreaking dogs, you can use their sense of smell to your advantage in this training. Training a puppy is easier than housebreaking older dogs as older dogs already have some kind of a routine or a habit which you will have to break first for new ones.  A well trained dog can form a healthy relationship with his owners as both the dog and his owner start to know each other in a better way.

The dog lover’s world is an ever-changing landscape thanks to advances in technology. Dog owner’s can now use everything from automated feeders to computer chip tracking implants on their dogs so that they can best protect and manage them in this tumultuous environment. One of the most beneficial of advancements in technology is the electronic dog collar.

Dog training used to be a hassle. You used to have to take your dogs to reform school just to get them to sit when you want them to or lie down when they are misbehaving. It took a lot of the dog owner’s time and money to get a dog to act accordingly before but with the rise of electronic dog collars things have gotten a whole lot simpler. Now pretty much any amateur dog trainer can use electronic dog collars to manipulate their dog’s behavior through the use of positive reinforcement.

The benefits of using electronic dog collars are widespread and fall in all manner of dog behaviors. The simplest benefits are those that train your dog to sit still and relaxed when a stranger knocks on the door. By using an electronic dog collar on your dog you don’t have to be bothered or annoyed by incessant barking and yammering when the mailman walks by. You just give your dog a little zap from time to time and he will learn that the behavior is unwanted and unpleasant and will stop.

One of the more advanced benefits of using electronic dog collars comes when you pair them with an electronic fence. It can be a nuisance to have to take your dog out whenever he wants to use the bathroom. You can easily remedy this by installing an electronic perimeter around your property and by attaching an electronic collar around your dog’s neck. Whenever the dog passes the perimeter he will get a shock and eventually learn that he is not to go outside the invisible lines. Now you can keep your dog in one area without chaining him to a tree or carrying him around on a leash.

Basically, electronic dog collars make it easier to train dogs and they allow you to live peaceful quiet (albeit sometimes lazy) lives with a dog breed that might have once caused havoc. You can learn more about dog collars and their benefits atSome Dog Collars.

Indoor dog kennels are a necessity to any family that adopts or purchases a new dog. It is always a good idea to keep new dogs in a kennel because new owners cannot be sure how the dog will behave when they are not supervised. Dogs have a tendency of getting anxious when left alone, leaving them to chew up anything in the house including the owner’s belongings, furniture, and items that could be poisonous to the dog. Kennels are also very helpful in house training a dog because dogs tend not to want to urinate in a closed and contained area.

There are a few different types of indoor dog kennels. Most indoor kennels are made out of plastic with metal wire openings in the sides with a plastic or metal wire door. These are great for indoor use because they can be moved and cleaned easily. There are also metal wire cage style dog kennels. These are also light and easy to clean, and bedding can be changed easily. Some owners prefer these because the dog is able to see out of the kennel from any direction.

Indoor dog kennels can easily be found at any large chain store, and they are also available at pet supply shops. There is a wide variety available at online retail stores.

When purchasing a dog kennel an owner must take the size of the dog into consideration. For indoor kennels the size does not have to be too large, but the dog should be able to move around comfortably. The kennel should also be large enough to fit light bedding and a couple of chew toys to ease the dog’s discomfort and loneliness.

An indoor dog kennel is very often overlooked when new pet owners adopt a dog, but it is a very good way to ensure the comfort of the dog and the comfort of the new owner. It helps to build a trusting relationship with the new pet, and it also helps to protect the home and belongings of the new owner.

Depending on what type of terrier you own or are interested in learning about, you might enjoy checking out these Books on Terriers

Terrier dogs are first and foremost hunters. They were developed specifically to go down holes after game and fight it out with them. Terriers are basically reckless little scrappers. Hard-core terrier enthusiasts even go so far as to say that Pit Bulls, Staffordshires and the other larger breeds aren’t really terriers because they are too big to work underground. If that’s true then the only real Terriers are the smaller breeds like Cairns, Westies and Jack Russells, to name a few. Anyone who welcomes one of the terrier breeds into their home should know what they are getting into. Unfortunately, that is usually not the case. Dogs are purchased based on their looks more than anything else in the modern world. We buy a West Highland Terrier because its good looking, white and because we’ve seen it on the Caesar commercials and it looked cute. Then when it acts like a terrier we think we have a problem! Terriers are not lap dogs at heart, and all the treats in the world won’t make it so. The very least you have to do is provide a sound foundation of leash training. Get a good book. Go to some classes. Get the right gear. For goodness sake don’t deck your new Terrier out with a harness and flexi-leash. That is the worst possible combination of gear for dog training. Dogs like the West Highland Terrier or the Cairn Terrier are very strong willed and you have to be very clear in your own mind what you are trying to accomplish and then stay on top of them until you get what you want. Once you accomplish basic leash training and establish boundaries in the house you will probably have done enough, if all you want is a companion. Higher expectations require more intense work and knowledge, obviously. No matter what your goals with your dog are, understanding his basic nature is the first step. Then find ways to use the unique nature of the dog you have selected to get to where you want to be. Small terrier breeds are cute, but it still takes a lot of work to get them to develop their full potential.

Some advice from a West Highland Terrier owner…West Highland Terriers can get along very well with cats and once they have grown used to each other they make excellent companions for each other. The integration needs to be performed carefully, though, because of the nature of Westie Terriers.Because they are a small breed, people often perceive Westies to be lapdogs. Nothing could be farther from the truth. These dogs were bred to hunt and they remain hunters and fighters to this day. One trait that all the terrier breeds share, Pit Bulls to Yorkies, is that if something runs away they will chase it. If they catch what they are pursuing they grab it and give that terrier headshake that kills so fast. So, when you try to bring a cat and a Westie together you need to do everything you can to protect the cat. There are two basic situations:

• Introducing a dog into a household with an established cat.
• Bringing a cat into a household that already has a Westie.

In either case, the main thing you must ensure is that the dog learns to submit to the cat. This may not meet our standards of fairness, but its the only way to guarantee the safety of the cat.You also need to know for sure that you can control the dog under all circumstances. In practice that means the dog needs to be leashed in the house for the first while. The best way to do this is to put the dog on umbilical. Get a six foot leash and tie it around your waist with the dog attached. This keeps your hands free to do other things and also means that you can’t accidentally lose your grip on the lead if the dog gives a sudden lunge.So, put the dog on umbilical and just sit on the couch with both animals in the room. What we want to see is that the animals first ignore each other, then become curious and sniff each other. You may be able to hasten the process somewhat by presenting each animal with the others butt and letting them get a good sniff.If your Westie starts lunging and snarling, lay it down on its side and make it submit ala Cesar Millan.There really isn’t much more to know or do for success. The only caution is that the process takes at least a couple of weeks. Before that time has elapsed you really can’t count on the dog. Keep him on umbilical whenever hes around the cat. This training is good for him in many other ways anyway and you’ll find he’s much more respectful and attentive to you after a couple of weeks of umbilical training. Westies and cats can definitely be friends. Look here for more information about the training of  West Highland Terriers.

If you have a problem with balloons attacking you or your property, this video shows how a Westie could save the day…

Basic Potty Training for DogsHouse training a dog can be almost as stressful as potty training a toddler.  It can actually be even more stressful, there is no reasoning with a dog.  If you want to train your puppy, there are a few things that you can do to make it seem a bit less stressful.  The first thing you have to do is go out and buy some small little reward treats at your local pet store.  You will need these for positive reinforcement.Establish RoutinesJust like a child falls into a routine with daily activities, so does a dog.  The first thing you are going to have to do is to establish a routine during the day.  A puppy can usually hold its bladder one hour for every month it is old.  So, if your puppy is five months old than you cannot expect him or her to hold his bladder for more than five hours.Take Frequent Potty BreaksYou are going to have to take your puppy outside frequently to go to the bathroom.  They are going to have to get used to going to the bathroom outside.  The more you are outside the more they will get used to going to the bathroom outside of your home.  You may want to keep this in mind when you are deciding the best time to get a new puppy.  Someone is going to need to be around during the training phase.Pick a Special SpotIt will be helpful to you and to your neighbors if you pick a special potty spot outside.  Try to pick one place to take your dogs to the bathroom rather than always going for long walks.  You should also try to use words such as “potty” or “bathroom” when you go out so they can associate the words with the action.   You can play with them outside or go for longer walks when they have already gone to the bathroom.Try Rewards for Doing the Right ThingMake sure you reward your puppy when they do a good job.  Keep some small treats in your pocket and when they go to the bathroom outside, reward them.  Positive reinforcement is the best way to go.  It is important to remember that your puppy is probably going to make some mistakes as it learns.  Coming to terms with this from the beginning is a good idea.  You should also remember that screaming at a puppy who has had an accident while you were away is not effective.  Their minds are just not wired to associate what they did hours ago to your outrage as you stand in front of them.  Try to catch them when they do the RIGHT thing and then give them praise.  Just like a person, they’ll respond a lot better.

There are some steps that should be taken prior to leash training a dog. The process requires teaching the dog a couple basic commands first.  Teaching to dog to sit and stay will help the dog understand that you are the master.  Most dogs become excited when they hear or see the leash.  They also tend to tug and pull at the leash or to lag behind, if they are not obedient. Having mastery with the basic commands helps when you take the dog out for his or her first few walks on the leash.Walking a dog outdoors can be fun and can reduce life’s stresses, with a dog that walks quietly. It also gives the dog much needed exercise. Walking outdoors requires basic dog training.  Make sure your dog does obey the basic commands first and you will have an easier time with leash training. A good fitting, comfortable collar is necessary for leash training.  Unless city ordinances require something stronger, try to avoid choker collars or those studded on the inside.  The goal is to teach the dog respect, not fear.  Other considerations on how to train a dog to walk on a leash include the size and width of the leash.  Nylon leashes are acceptable, as long as the handle is comfortable and the leash is strong enough for the size of the dog.  Chain leashes might be suitable for a toy dog breed, but not for a Labrador Retriever or German Shepard.  When the appropriate leash is selected, the dog owner can use it to apply short jerks, along with the command to heel or a similar word, when the dog begins to pull and tug.  Many dogs tend to jump around or dance when the leash is first attached.  To teach the dog not to do this takes just a bit of patience and time.  When the dog first begins jumping around, hold the leash in place by the handle or by stepping on it, if the dog is small enough.  The dog may bounce back several times before he or she realizes that this does not produce results.  Within five minutes, most dogs will quit thrashing around and give in.
Here is a helpful video about leash training a dog…

Stop Puppy Biting

It is natural for puppies to bite and gnaw on your hands, feet, shoes, and even electrical cords. Biting is the way that puppies explore and learn about the world, just like how human babies stick everything in their mouths. Though it is natural, biting puppies are a nuisance and those sharp puppy teeth are painful. Learning how to stop a puppy from biting will relieve you of pain and even save you money on items the puppy may destroy.

Yelping Method

As a puppy plays and bites on its littermates, other puppies let out yelps with the bites are too painful. Play stops after a yelp, as the biting puppies instinctively know that they have hurt a littermate. Letting out a high-pitched, puppy-like yelp alerts the puppy that they are being too rough when they play with you. This method is a great way to teach a puppy if you have small children, you can even get your children to play along.

Ignoring Method

Another way to stop puppy biting is to get up and walk away from the puppy when the biting begins. Puppies desire your undivided attention when they are awake, and biting is one way they will try to grab your attention. You will notice that litters of puppies bite on one another for play and attention when they are bored. Completely walking away from the puppy and letting the puppy know that biting does not receive attention is another effective method of stopping biting puppies; a method that a mother dog uses as well.

Chew Toys

Teaching the puppy what is okay to chew and bite on will also teach the puppy to stop biting you and other items you want to protect. The chew toys give puppies an item to focus their energy and chewing urges on. To teach the biting puppies what they should chew on, offer the chew toys when they begin to bit or gnaw on your fingers, toes or other items.

Mother Dog Method

A mother dog immediately administers discipline when biting puppies become painful or just annoying. Sometimes the mother may walk off and ignore the puppy, though other times she will show dominance to cease the biting. One way that dogs show dominance is through biting; the mother dog will bite the biting puppies on the backs of their necks to cease puppy biting. Giving the puppy a hard squeeze on the back of the neck will teach dominance without causing the puppy pain.

Here is a very good video demonstrating the “yelping” method…