Three Items To Consider Before Getting A Dog

Having a dog as a pet is one of the wonderful experiences in life. A dog always loves you, no matter what, if you treat your pet properly and establish a good relationship.

The dog will establish the relationship immediately, but will you? Dogs are very emotional and will bond very quickly to the owner, largely because the figure out that you hold the keys to what they want like food, training, and companionship. That is just how they are built.

The first thing that you must consider is what kind of dog you are going to get for your pet. Dogs come in different energy modes from extremely active to some that are calmer. Active dogs like Dalmatians, Labs, and Poodles require lots of attention and exercise. You should be sure that you will be able to provide enough time and space in your schedule in order to accommodate them.

The second thing to consider is the proper care and maintenance that must be provided for the health of the dog. You need to sit down and budget the necessary expenses that will be required for routine medical care at the Veterinarian for your dog, as well as a reserve in case anything serious occurs. It is also a good idea to look into a pet health insurance policy in case anything serious occurs.

The third thing you should consider is to be sure that you are able to secure the proper training for your dog. This is important because unless your dog is trained and socialized, you will be a prisoner of your dog. You will not be able to successfully have company, because your dog will either jump all over any new arrivals in your home, or they will be terrorized by the protective instincts of the dog.

It is a good idea to get a puppy or a small dog just for the training itself, as it is easier to train a puppy than it is for a more mature dog. Enlist the services of a well qualified dog trainer for this part of the deal, and you come with the package, because you will have to be trained too.

The end result of training is that the dog will respond to your commands, such as sit, stay, come, lay down, and so on. Once the dog responds to your commands, it is easy to have company, as the dog will want to please you.

If all three of these measures are carefully considered, your experience with your new pet will be greatly enhanced.

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5 Reasons Little Dogs Need Training Too!

Quite often people that own small dogs say that their dog doesn't need training because it is just a small dog. That isn't true. Small dogs need training just like the big guys do and here are just a few of the reasons why. 

1. Because they are always with you 

Small dogs seem to always be with you at your side no matter where you go in the house. For that reason having a trained dog is important for the manners. 

2. They need house training 

Big or small they all need house training. Nothing worse than a little guy that just does it business anywhere and anytime. Just because the piles are smaller does not mean that you should not worry about house training. Keep in mind that the number 1 reason dogs of all sizes end up in a shelter is because of house training issues. 

Training your pet establishes the dog master relationship and teaches your dog that you are the master and that there are rules that need to be followed. 

3. Little dogs need manners 

Nothing is worse than going to someone's home that has a barking, jumping little dog that is snapping at your ankles. We have all seen it and don't like it. Taking your dog through an obedience training program is important even for the little guys. Don't forget they also need proper socialization before they are 20 weeks old just so you don't have an aggression issue when they turn one year. 

4. To save their life 

Training your small dog a few simple exercises can actually save its life. Teaching the come command is important when your dog is heading for the street. If it comes when you call then it did not get hit by the car. 

5. So you can be proud of them 

So many people are constantly making excuses for their poorly behaved dog. When you stop and think, it is not the dog's fault it is the owner that just wouldn't take the time to train their dog so that they had a pet they could be proud of. 

Dog training is not that expensive or difficult to do. Give your dog one 15 minute session a day and you will have a trained dog. Training will also develop that dog master bond that is so important to have a well-behaved dog that you can truly enjoy.

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Five Basic Things To Start Teaching Your Dog

If you have a dog it does need some training. Depending on your lifestyle or what you expect from a dog will determine how much training you will do with it. Keep in mind that every dog does need some basic training to make it a good member of the family and a welcome addition to your home. 

1. Let's start with the sit command. Every dog should learn to sit for some basic good manners. In fact this is the first exercise most people teach their dog. 

2. The down command is next and it is probably the most import command that there is. The down command actually is the exercise that establishes you as the master. Yes when your dog will drop to the ground when you say "down" without you having to do anything else is the sign that your dog says you are the alpha.

 

3. The stay command really comes in handy on a bunch of occasions. Yes, there are times when your dog needs to do a stay. One example is when the Fed-Ex driver delivers your package or when the pizza mans brings your dinner. Having a dog that will sit and stay at the door with out running out is important. 

4. The come command can really be a lifesaver. Yes the come command can save your dogs life. Picture this, you open the door and the dog runs out and is heading straight for the street and a really bad meeting with a speeding car. You give a firm come command and your dog instantly turns and comes back to you. Collision avoided as well as a very sad day that you just might have experienced. 

5. Walking nicely on a loose leash is a very important exercise. One of the biggest complaints dog owners have is that their dog is dragging them down the street when going for walks. Some people even end up with a sore arm, elbow or shoulder which ends up keeping them from going on any walks at all. 

By teaching your dog these few simple basics will not make your dog the best trained dog in the neighborhood however it will give you a dog that is easier to control and more of a joy to be around. If you and your four legged companion enjoyed this training why don't you continue the training for a better, happier, well behaved dog?

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Should You Allow Your Dog On The Bed?

Let me start this article off by saying that there are millions of dogs sleeping in people's beds and without a problem. However there are a number of dogs sleeping in people's beds that create a lot of problems the worst of which is usually aggression. 

It's a documented fact that when you put a dog in your bed or on your furniture it becomes an equal. If your dog is an equal why should it listen to you it's just as important or has as much authority as you do? 

Like I mentioned a moment ago there are dogs that sleep in people's beds that are not a problem. This is usually a dog that has been trained or at least knows its place in the pack. 

So now back to the question should you allow your dog on the bed and the answer is generally no? Not unless your dog has been trained properly and knows his place in the pack. 

So now let's talk for a moment about those dogs that do have a problem like aggression. Usually this type of aggression is directed at members of the family which could include the kids, mom and dad, or even the other dog. So how do we fix it? 

Actually it's fairly easy. You are going to start off by not allowing your dog on the bed or on the furniture at any time for the next few weeks. That means you'll need to find a way to keep the dog off your bed during the night while you're sleeping. Using a crate to accomplish this is always an easy fix. 

Keeping the dog off the furniture can sometimes be a little trickier but it's really very easy. Each time your dog gets on the furniture simply grab it by the collar and pull it off the furniture as you give the command "off". I think that you'll find within as little as 24 hours your dog will stop getting on the furniture. 

The second part of the equation is to now obedience train your dog. Ideally you'll want to hire a professional dog trainer that can help you accomplish your goals quickly and efficiently. 

The training should include all the basics. 

· Walking on a loose leash 

· Sit on command 

· Down command 

· Sit stay 

· Down stay 

· Recall - the come command 

These exercises are actually going to establish you as the master and it will show your dog its place in the pack. 

So after the training is completed and your dog knows its place in the pack you can invited back into the bed. If there aren't any additional problems you can allow him to stay in the bed. However if your dog reverts to its old bad habits then it will have to get out of the bed again. With some dogs if you give them an inch they will take a mile.

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