Here’s a short list of dog training tips us humans should always bear in mind. I’ve decided to mention these because, I believe, they are the most important.

To be honest with you this list has more to do with teaching ourselves how to communicate with our dogs, than it does with dog training tips. Because, when it comes to dog training, we too need to be taught in a sense.

We as human beings need to learn how our “best friends from the animal kingdom” think. If we send our dogs confusing signals when training, we won’t get the positive results we’re aiming for.

Perhaps I should have called this article, “human training tips” instead. Oh well, let us begin:

1.) When ever you’re feeling a little cranky, you might want to put off training your dog till a later time. If you’re not enjoying your training session, most likely your dog won’t enjoy it either. So for take-away dog training tips number one I would say, “If you’re in a bad mood, don’t do it, you’ll only make things harder on yourself and the poor mutt.”

2.) You want to make each training session as much fun for “Fido” or “Fluffy” as possible. That way, in the future, your dog will respond with alacrity to your commands rather than fearful obedience. Take-away dog training tips number two: “For crying out loud, stop scaring the dog and have fun!”

3.) Never spend too much time training your dog. Usually fifteen to twenty minutes a day will be sufficient for your dog to learn. Take-away dog training tips number three: “Take it easy, no need to over do it.”

4.) Always praise your dog when your training sessions come to an end. That way your dog will know that you are pleased with its progress. Take-way dog training tips number four: “Don’t worry about your dog getting a big head. Dogs don’t have egos.” (Yeah, I know. I don’t know your dog, right? )

5.) Whether training or not, always reward your dogs good behavior with praise and maybe a treat. Take-away dog training tips number Five: “Read tip number six.”

6.) Not too many treats though, or you won’t have a dog anymore! Take-away dog training tips number six: “Don’t over do the doggy biscuits.”

7.) Don’t punish your dog when it behaves badly during training. Try to correct it. If it doesn’t do well, or is confused with a new command, resort back to one it knows. That way you can praise your dog and try again later. Take-away dog training tips number seven: “Lighten up! If you’re not perfect, neither is the pooch.”

8.) If you become angry at your dog during training, resort back to tip number one.

Remember, you want to make training as fun as possible, for you and your dog, not a chore. Take-away dog training tips number eight: “This one speaks for itself.”

I decided to keep this one short and sweet so you could take-away something to chew on. Us humans can only take-away so many dog training tips, right?

By M. David Keeling | Picture By Me

Calm Down!- CESAR MILLAN

Dogs bark as a form of communication. If your dog barks, there is a reason why. It may be simply a response to a stimulus, like a jogger running by the house—or it may be your dog’s way of asking for help. Remember, barking is natural! It’s an important means of communication for dogs. But sometimes problems can develop. As the pack leader, it’s your job to step in and control excessive barking.

• Correct and follow through! Tell your dog to stop barking using a look, a sound, or a physical correction. But don’t stop there. Your dog may pause and then go right back to what he was doing. His body relaxed, but his brain was still on alert. Be patient. Wait until your dog completely submits before you go back to what you were doing.
• Make sure you are calm! Constant barking can be irritating, but you won’t be able to correct the problem if you are frustrated. Animals don’t follow unbalanced leaders. In fact, your dog will mirror your energy. If you’re frustrated, he will be, too! And barking is a great release for that frustrated energy. Take a moment to curb your own internal barking first.
• Stake your claim! Is your dog barking over and over again at the same object, person, situation, or place? Then you need to step up and claim that stimulus as your own. Use your body, your mind, and your calm-assertive energy to create an invisible wall that your dog is not allowed to cross. Do it with 100% dedication and focus, and the results may surprise you.
• Give your dog more challenges! Excessive barking is often the result of pent-up energy. If this is the case, the solution is simple: release that energy in more productive ways. Does your dog receive a daily walk? Can you make the walk more challenging with a bicycle, a backpack, or by walking on an incline? Can you provide more mental challenges, such as herding, agility training, or simple obedience games? There are many, many ways to increase the challenges in your dog’s life. Find one that you enjoy that your dog can participate in safely.

By CESAR MILLAN

Sit and Stay the Cesar Way- Cesar Millan

Cesar presents four trainers, including Martin Deeley and Nikki Litwin, as they demonstrate their tried and true methods for training dogs and puppies in Cesars Mastering Leadership series, “Sit and stay”

Cesar Millan is a world-renowned dog behavior specialist, known for his uncanny ability to walk large packs of dogs at a time. Not only that but, from poodles to pit bulls, these now well-behaved canines have each been rehabilitated, rescued from a wide range of extreme behavior issues.

By Cesar Millan