Dog Training Zone

The National Association of Dog Obedience Instructors is currently one of the, if not the only known, certified dog training organization. It has an extremely extensive process of evaluation, and does not give certificates away to anyone that walks into one of their courses off the street, it only issues certificates to people they deem fit for the role, and that have enough experience to pass on guidance and advice correctly. Passing their tough course and been issued with the NADOI certification will definitely contribute to your future success in dog training others, but this option is not available to fresh instructors.

There are numerous qualities and advantages that will determine whether or not you will become a good dog trainer. Firstly a love for dogs will go a long way, and it goes without saying, if you try to achieve certification and do not have a passion for the animals then simply do not bother wasting your time of the national association of dog obedience trainers time either. Knowing your love for dogs, you need a good level of communication with fellow dog owners and the general public, as not only are you dog training you are also training the dog owner, so they can put it into practice outside of lessons.

The majority of time spent obedience training is spent with the owner and training people, as it is essential that they know how to train their dog, and put it in all the correct actions at an early stage, so their dog knows what is right or wrong from an early stage, otherwise the dog will never know the difference. Therefore the two main essentials are people skills and of course the love for dogs. Been able to understand people is a must as instructors will be faced with many difficult situations, and good communication will go a long way in helping both the owner and the dog.

Of course there are stacks of private dog training academies around, but none are certified like the National Association of Dog Obedience Instructors, and this is the only academy recognized by dog trainers and vets throughout the USA.

More information on Dog Training can be found at the author’s website at http://www.abc-dogtraining.info

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Every year well over 4 million people are bitten by dogs. While some of these bites may be minor, others can leave serious injuries or even death. If you own a dog which bites someone, you could find yourself in legal trouble. If it kills someone, you could end up behind bars. While I don’t want to scare you away from owning a dog, there are some things you will want to do to make sure your dog doesn’t bite you or others.

The first thing you want to do is never approach strange dogs. Even if the dog is behind a fence or tied up, it could see you as being a threat. You should also keep your own dog away from other strange dogs. It could be injured or killed if the strange dog decides to attack it. You should also avoid petting your dog without letting them sniff your hand first so that they know who you are. Under no circumstances should you run from a dog. Dogs are natural predators, and will almost always chase you unless they’re trained.

When a dog is eating, sleeping, or caring for its young, it is best not to startle or disturb them. They may snap at or bite you. It may be necessary to neuter your dog if it is going around and getting into fights with other dogs constantly. You can also take your dog around others to keep it from being nervous when in the presence of people it is not familiar with. Dogs should also be trained not to chase anyone. This is one of the most common things which leads to a dog biting someone. You should also give your dog rabies vaccinations, and never allow it to go places without your supervision.

If you should be attacked by a dog, the first thing you want to do is remain calm. If you panic you are likely to make bad decisions. You will also want to wash the wound as soon as possible. Use soap and water and contact your doctor as soon as you can. Contact the animal care agency in your area and let them know that you have been bitten. Describe the dog and where you encountered them. Let them know what direction you think the dog went in.

Being the owner of a dog which likes to bite is a serious issue. You can avoid biting by training the dog while they’re young. Once they get older, it will be difficult or impossible to get them to follow your commands, and if they bite somone else, you could be in a lot of trouble.

Michael Colucci is a technical writer for Free Dog Training and Dog Care

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Be a leader, a dog will follow.

From the last two articles, remember King and his dominant dog behavior? King was the leader of his pack — Mom, Dad, 2 kids. King set the rules in the house and didn’t hesitate to enforce them, with growling, snapping, and even biting. I introduced 3 simple dog training steps to help you begin to take the leadership role back from King.

Then there was Queenie and her family (especially Mom), who gently took the leadership position. Queenie learned dog manners and wonderful dog behavior through Mom’s gentle but firm positive dog training methods and her consistency in teaching Queenie house rules. Queenie was eager to learn and to please and received lots of praise and tons of treats. With humans as pack leaders and dogs as pack members (preferably at the bottom of the hierarchy!), the whole household is calm and happy.

Let’s talk about your household. Your angel might not be as dominant or aggressive as King, and you may have worked with her some but not quite enough to have a dog similar to Queenie. Time is sometimes a factor — with our lives as busy as they are, sometimes it’s difficult to make time to for even short periods of dog training. But if you’ll give it a little effort, the payoff will be tremendous. You can change your dog’s behavior in no time at all.

I want to give you a few more new recommendations for regaining leadership in your pack. But first, I want to review some of the ones found in the first two articles. For the complete list, go to http://www.best-dog-articles.com.

SOME REVIEW STEPS

Get their attention first — say Fido’s name before you say the command.

Be kind — Use a gentle voice, give commands and direction calmly and lovingly.

Let’s play — YOU start and end all games. Keep them wanting more.

Let’s EAT — YOU eat before feeding the dog.

Praise, praise, praise – Pour on the praise for good dog behavior and good manners.

NEW STEPS

1. Are you sick?!

One of the first concerns with new or unwanted behaviors (e.g., excessive urination) is a health concern. Get a vet check to address any health concerns that might cause behaviors your dog has no control over.

2. Down every day!

Put your dog in a “down” position for 5-10 minutes every day. This reinforces for your dog that you are the leader. Beginning this program may involve many jump-ups. Just gently and firmly put the dog back down. (No need to restart time.) You will notice that the breaks of command quickly fall away. It’s fine for your dog to sleep through this one!

3. Do that AGAIN!

Dogs love routine. They have incredible internal clocks. One activity that dogs love and that routine is important is mealtime. I suggest feeding dogs two times a day (no running buffet) within an hour window each time (e.g., 7-8AM and 5-6PM). Watch your dog — if you do something regularly, they come to expect it and act appropriately. Other activities that can become routine are morning or evening walks, Saturday errands, the time you come home from work. If it’s a regular thing, your dog knows it’s going to happen.

4. Brush, brush, brush the coat!

One activity you both can enjoy is grooming. Daily gentle grooming reinforces a loving relationship with your dog. This can become prized private time for both of you.

5. Through the paces– Every day!

Obedience training is very important to do every day, even for 5 minutes at a time. Try to avoid the military commando approach. Be consistent and kind, get your dog’s attention first, praise, praise, praise for his willingness and compliance to your commands. Practicing obedience reinforces that you are the leader.

CONCLUSION

That’s it! You now have the arsenal for regaining the leadership position in your pack and getting some good dog behavior practices in place. Emphasizing the positive in your dog training efforts pays off exponentially — your dog will be your friend for life and won’t be scared of you. When you establish yourself as leader, dogs respect you and will work so hard to please you. Take the time to get these easy steps into your daily routine and watch the changes magically occur.

Wishing you a calm and happy adventure with your canine companions.

[This article is the third in a 3-part series about changing dog behavior using positive dog training methods.]

O’Neal Hendrix is a premier professional dog trainer in Atlanta, GA. For many years, she has “worked miracles” with dogs and their owners. Check out her dog toy recommendations for all dog breeds and temperaments!

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