Showing posts with label dog training certification schools. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dog training certification schools. Show all posts

Monday, September 3, 2012

Dog Health Questions: How do i make my dog more obedient?

Hello!!!
I just goy a dog for my birthday in August and it is the cutest thing ever its a toy Yorkie and i loved it for like 2 weeks and know it just drives my crazy, I used to let it sleep in my room in like a cute like box thing but it would wake me up at 5:00 in the morning so know it just sleeps outside with my other dog. And very time I open the backyard door it runs inside the house and when you go to pick it up it pee's. It also digs holes, doesn't go to the bathroom in the grass and it barks all night its just crazy. I was thinking about taking it to a dog training class at pets-mart but I don't really know if it works. Please give me advise on how to fix this problem as fast as I can and without to much work involved.

thanks
XOXO

Guard Dog Training Tips & Tricks Revealed



Recommended Answer:
Never let your dog sleep on your bed unless you want him to be spoiled and don't really care.

It is best to leave you dog to sleep in it's own bed locked somewhere in the house such as the laundry room, and if he/she starts barking, don't go see what's wrong because he/she just wants attention and going to see whats wrong with her/him would let him/her think that he/she is the boss and would take advantage on you.

Always let your dog out at about every two hours or one hour. And if you want your dog to be potty trained inside the house, you could by these dog nappy pads that you spread out on the floor, and then whenever it is just about to pee or poo, quickly take your dog to the nappy pad, and keep taking it to the pad until it will go to do its potty on the pad by itself.

If it digs holes in the garden whenever you let it out, make sure your garden is fenced and that the fence is stuck into the ground, so when it digs a massive hole it wont be able to get out.

If it barks whenever you let it out, i know this sounds cruel, but you can always get a shock collar for little dogs so it wouldn't hurt them a lot, but they usually teach them a lesson to not bark for no reason whenever it is let out. Or you could say "no!" but in a very strong, tough voice so it knows that you are serious. If that doesn't work, you can always spank it, but not too hard, just gently, and it is best to do it just above their nose, because dogs don't really like to be tapped or spanked above their nose. Yorkshires are also very well known to yap a lot. LoL That is probably why your one is noisy, my neighbour has a yorkie and sometimes it would be barking for the whole day.

Another option is you can take it to doggy school.

Make sure you don't spoil your dog too much even if it is very tempting to because it will just take advantage on you and would think that they are the alpha and you are the lower member of the pack.

Well anyways, have fun with it and good luck on training your dog. And i beat it is extremely cute because i love yorkies myself, we were going to get one but my dad didn't want a yorkie because he said they would be very noisy and are too small.

The 5 Best Dog Training Tips For You and Your Dog


  • ok first thing You have a huge problem if you want to have a dog and not have "too much work involved" . In that case just find the dog another home because you might not be suitable to be a pet parent. The dog wants attention and his bored and that's why it finds ways to entertain itself. Try a class or read articles on training.

  • Hi,

    You might want to teach your dog the basic obedience commands. They reinforce your role as your dog's leader. Using treats to lure your dog into the correct position or place, and then to reward her for obeying, is one of the easiest and most dog-friendly methods. here's more info:

    http://lnk.nu/dogtime.com/rzy.html

  • fix ur dog. crate train it. walk your dog. and actually potty train it to go outside, and if u pick it up it pees then don't pick it up

  • Sign up for Puppy Kindergarten, You need to learn to communicate with the puppy and he needs to learn to respect you.

  • One of my all time favorite quotes is: "If you don't have time to train a dog, get a stuffed animal!"

  • Take him to see a trained pet psychologist.

  • All dogs like to be kept inside because they are social animals, but keeping a toy Yorkie outside just spells a recipe for disaster. They aren't outside dogs, have long hair, and are very fragile. It sounds like your dog needs a lot of interaction and exercise, and you should be consulting with a veterinarian on how to train your dog so that you are both happy--because right now he's not happy and neither are you.

    If all else fails, consider giving the puppy to someone who is more prepared to handle him--there are lots of breed-rescues that might be willing to rehome him. Keeping him outside is not right.
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Friday, August 17, 2012

Dog Health Questions: Two very important Dog Training Questions.....please any advice?

Okay for the last few days when my husband leaves for work, my poodle starts barking and then goes and poops on the floor, same place same routine.

I don't get this because when my husband gets up he lets the dogs out and before he leaves he lets the dogs out and our poodle always poops outside, but he manages to squeeze one more out after my husband leaves and then runs and hides under the bed.

Now my poodle is two years old and potty trained, why the sudden change in behavior. (I've known poodles in the past to poop out of spite, it seems to be a poodle thing. I've never known a breed to do something like that other than the poodle)

Also we have a baby on the way so this behavior ofcourse we need to stop before we move into our new place (So exactly 4 weeks).

How can we go about correcting this?also both dogs, Poodle and Terrier mix. Don't sleep in their crates. Our terrier has a bed next to our bed and our poodle sleeps at the end of our bed. Both dogs have been doing this since they were each about 10 months old.

My husband feels with the new baby coming we should start crating them again at night. Atleast until the baby is older. The babys bed will be in our room at first and he thinks we should crate the dogs in the living room.

I feel kind of bad about it.

Is that the best decision? If so when do we go about starting this? When we move that way they think its just a new place thing?

(the dogs have been allowed on the furniture their whole lives by the way)

thanks

5 Basic Dog Training Mistakes



Recommended Answer:
I don't believe any dog does this out of spite, though stress is a distinct possibility, and poodles are great at picking up vibes, realizing that something is different, but not knowing what.

First step would be to prevent this- don't allow him access to where he has been pooping when your husband is leaving, and make sure you have completely gotten rid of any scent. Since you're moving in 4 weeks, I'd just continue this through the moving period. You might want to crate him, or just gate him from the area.

Start developing a routine for after the baby comes home- even taking the dogs on a walk with a pram or carriage. You can play crying noises so the dogs are used to this strange new noise, though they may react to the actual baby even so. Some dogs become very insistent about crying babies- pawing and otherwise letting the adult humans know that the baby is in distress. And on a completely disgusting note, many dogs love the taste of dirty diapers, both on and off the kids, so keep the diaper genie or whatever behind a gate, figure out where that will be now, and if the dog starts paying attention to your baby's diaper, its probably time for a change! And you'll know that, because dogs and babies are NEVER to be left alone together unsupervised, and that includes up until the kid is 5 or 6 years old.

I do think that crating them at night would be a good idea, but I'd prefer to crate them closer to you, preferably in the same room if that is where they are used to sleeping. If not, is there a hallway? You could crate them in your room for right now until the move, then in a hallway or nearby room. This is also a time to brush up on their obedience and general behavior- before the baby comes home.

Dog Clicker Training vs Compulsion Based Dog Training, Which is Better?


  • It IS a good idea. And as far as the morning poop session...don't allow it to happen. Pick the dog up and put him in the crate...or take him outside. Just go back to "housebreaking 101".

  • It's a stress thing.

    Your husband needs to be calm when he's leaving and coming home, and not make a big fuss over the dogs at that time.

    The dog should be crated when he leaves, then taken outside immediately when you get up.

    He is stressed about your hubby leaving, and also about the changes taking place in the house (preparation for new baby, preparation for move).

    Crating when they can't be supervised around the baby is definitely a good idea.

  • Starting tonight, have the dogs start sleeping in crates in the living room, and get them used to being pets, not kids. This way, when the baby is born, they'll be used to being just pets, and there'll be no jealousy where the baby is concerned. The pets need to know they are NOT on equal footing with the baby. The baby comes first.

    Do it now, before you move, because moving is headache enough as it is. As for the dogs on the furniture, that's fine. It really has nothing to do with the situation at hand.

    Add: "What if I just crate him for 10 minutes for the accident. he already hates the crate still not sure why."

    That would be using the crate as punishment. Not a good idea. Start crating them at night, get them used to it, and you won't have to have that headache, on top of the zillion other headaches you'll have with being pregnant and moving.

    Add: You can report the person, but there's nothing stopping them from creating a new account and answering your questions again. Just ignore them. This is just the internet, anyway, so no need in getting upset over what some stranger over the internet says.

  • Ok. Lets be clear. Just to make sure you know, this is NOT a matter of bowel problems or actually having to go to the bathroom for your dog. This is severe separation anxiety issues. You husband could let the dog out all morning long, and that dog would still poop on the carpet because he's pissed.

    Also to be perfectly clear, this is NOT just a Poodle thing. Many dogs do this out of spite and it's not always an issue from the get-go. Yes, small dogs may have more of a tendency toward this type of behavior, but that's usually related to bladder control when excited. So don't blame it on the breed.

    Your Poodle is upset. Believe it or not, dogs are a lot more intuitive than you might realize. I'm sure they realize that there is something going on. You have a baby on the way AND your moving in 4 weeks!? That's a lot for any dog to handle. I'm sure the household is going through changes, routines may be slightly different, and even if not, dogs can simply play off of our emotions. If you have nervous or excited energy about these coming changes, it could easily make the dog nervous.

    Chances are, if you don't work on this (and work on it HARD) right now, it's going to get WAY out of hand when you throw a new baby and new house into the mix. That's going to be very difficult for an anxious dog to deal with.

    Here's some steps you can take to correct the problem. Keep in mind, this takes consistency and dedication. This isn't something you can fix overnight. Your dog is stressed so you're going to have to work extra hard to make her feel safe and trusting toward you and your husband.

    1.) It sounds like you're still home when the dog does this after your husband leaves? Do you just watch it happen? You need to just stop it from happening. All you'd have to do is completely distract the dog before your husband leaves and for a bit after. Take it for a walk, give it some treats, play...just don't let it obsess over your husband leaving and certainly do not allow it to bark and then even get over the spot where he normally poops*. Just grab him and put him outside if anything, but simply DON'T LET him keep doing the same thing. If he behaves, give him a treat or a special toy each time. Also, try to have your husband leave through different doors if possible. It may confuse the dog just enough that he doesn't think he's leaving.

    *If he does poop inside again, grab him before he can run upstairs, give him a stern "NO" and scoop up the poop. Take it and him outside and put the poop in the spot where he should be going outside.

    2.) Be sure you thoroughly spray the spot where he keeps going with some type of dog spray. NOT a deodorizer, something from your local pet store that actually deters dogs and keeps them away. If you want, you could even buy a cheap old throw rug, douse it in the "Dog Off" stuff and put it in that spot just to throw him off.

    3.) Whatever you do, don't yell at the dog for being upset. It will only make it worse. Yes, you can discipline him for pooping in the house, but when he is barking and upset, it's only going to make it worse for you to yell.

    4.) I know this sounds harsh too, but for the time being, you may want to try giving the dog something a while before your husband leaves. They sell over-the-counter calming herbs for dogs that are mild, or you could try Benadryl (ask your vet for the proper dosage). This may help break the habit and aid in the overall transition. They also sell what's called a D.A.P. diffuser or "dog appeasing pheromone diffuser." You can Google it, but basically what it is is an "air freshener" type thing that is supposedly the smell that mothers release to their puppies to calm them. You may try having that plugged in near the door.

    5.) Also, does he do this ONLY when your husband leaves for work? If so, practice having your husband leave little by little. Like start early on the weekend, go through the motions, but have your husband "leave" and then come right back in and give the dog a treat (assuming he hasn't already ****). Gradually increase the amount of time he does this until the dog doesn't always freak out.

    6.) Now this is important. You MUST keep the dogs routine as NORMAL as humanly possible! If you have a baby and move into a new house, the LAST thing you want to do is make the poor thing feel like he's being further punished by crating him at night. There is no reason to do this. Especially in the living room! The poor things would probably howl all night if not become destructive. DO NOT DO THAT! If you MUST, get the Poodle it's own bed next to your like the Terrier mix and let them both stay in the room. The more things you change for the dog, the harder it's going to be to keep it calm and well-behaved. The dogs are already going to feel jealous and neglected at first, so pushing them further away is the worst thing you can do. Introducing a new home and a new baby is going to be difficult. You have to treat the
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Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Dog Health Questions: Dog books.?

What are the best dog training books you have read and how have they helped you to better train your dog?

Dog Training Career - How to Become a Dog Trainer



Recommended Answer:
Any by Wendy Volhard.

Ceaser is great too.

The Importance of Dog Training


  • i know Cezar Malian (the dog whisperer)has a book out but i never read it but his show it the best!!

  • "Ceasar's Way: (Ceasar Milon) is a great book. Taught me to be the Alpha and how to project calm assertive energy when working with my dogs. I can now get them into a calm submissive state much quicker. (no more tearing through the house, leaping on & off furniture) much much calmer dogs.

    Also check on breed specific books.

  • Cesar Millan has a book out that is available on eBay, Amazon Books etc. He is an awesome person with dogs. He teaches owners how to be pack leaders and to let the dog know that they are in charge. Most dogs will take on that role if they are allowed to. And most people allow them to. He has a website also
    http://www.dogpsychologycenter.com/tips/…
    Enjoy

  • Secrets of a Professional Dog Trainer by Adam G Katz it covered every dog training topic and the book included a membership to the website. I refer back to it often when my Meatloaf goes crazy..

    Also Cesar Millan
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Thursday, July 5, 2012

Dog Health Questions: Dog Training?

I need some help here. I need to train my pups not to bark, and to lay down and roll over and certain things like that....any tips?

:) thanks..

Enroll Your Pet to Dog Training School to Modify Behavioral Problems



Recommended Answer:
For barking read this article, its long so I will not post it here
http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pag…

For lay down get your dog to first sit, then with your hand bring it to his/her nose level and then bring it to the ground and say lay down..the idea is they will follow the hand to the ground. It may take a few tries. You can do it with a treat but keep teh treat inside your hand.

http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pag…
Has other tips on training ...I have yet to succeed or to here about a great way to teach a dog to roll over. Sorry that I am no help for that one

Information Is The Key - Same In Case Of Dog Trainings


  • There are a lot of good training books out there, or, preferably, go to an obedience class. It would take way too long to break down everything here.

    As for tips: patience. These things can sometimes take weeks.

    (Thumbs up to "Canine Teacher.")

  • give me a email! ill love to help! moh_airborne@yahoo.com

    ill probrably make videos and put them up on youtube so just give me a email some time!

  • I'm sorry, all I know is how to teach a dog the calculus.
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Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Dog Health Questions: Dog training, dog knows better, quits cooperating?

I adopted a 1 1/2 yo dog and have had for about ten days. Dog is quickly opening to me. It has a seperation anxiety I am working on and the stay command may need to be longer. Today, I brought a ball inside the house (sorry mom), and it was the first time she showed interest and indeed fetched the ball three times in a row. She never looked at the ball in any previous daily attempts this week.

I praised her after each retrieval and hand over, but i tried to reinforce the stay command using the ball and may have confused her, as she never fetched again. Wouldn't even open her mouth to the ball. This is the most recent example where she has shown an ability, but lacks consistent desire for follow through. Please help.

Also, any pointer on when to give up on a command, and how to move forward without rewarding a failed listen? Do i go with the failsafe sit, so she stays positive, or what else? Help she is a very good dog and I don't want to lose her by doing things wrong.

Training Your Dog at Home - Save Thousands of Dollars on Dog Training



Recommended Answer:
Not all dogs play the same way. My dog is not into fetch at all. I've tried to teach him many times, but he just isn't into it. He likes to play by just running around in crazy circles, and he plays with his toys by destroying them. That's his personality. Have you taken her to the dog park? See if she likes that. Or try other toys--tug toys or frisbees. Try stuff out and see what she likes.

Also, what kind of ball was it? My dog likes baseballs the best. Try Kong toys with cheese or peanut butter in them...try to make the toys something she really wants. Wait until you can tell she's in a playful mood, and try to play with her then. If you're trying to play with her when she's tired, she's not going to be into it.

The Main Benefits Of Dog Training


  • Consistency is the key to your dog being obedient. You and everyone in your family have to be consistent. Follow through is very important. Never give your dog a command that you can't, or aren't willing to enforce.

    Be careful not to overload the dog with information. Training takes time and patience.

  • Too much, take time with training. The dog is only with you 10 days, it needs time to adjust and to adapt to new people and a new environment. You may be pushing too hard. Have some fun with the dog, bond, play, go for walks, play more.
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Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Dog Health Questions: How do you train a dog to stop chewing up stuff?

Well hes 3 years old and if you leave your shoes out, or a stuffed animal or pillow or somthing, he will grab it and run and wont let go! We try to bribe him with treats and that doesnt work! He went to dog training class for a few weeks and that doesnt work either. hes been doing this since he was a puppy!

What can i do to help him (we have to block the bed rooms with a baby gate.

6 Step by Step Instructions For Dog Training Preparation



Recommended Answer:
Here is how a dog thinks..."if its on the floor it must be mine" so keep your stuff off the floor. If you can't get everyone to keep their stuff off the floor then it is a good idea to keep him out of the rooms with baby gates

Training classes will only work if the WHOLE family trains the dog at home and everbody does the same thing. Try it again and this time make sure everybody does the work with the dog at home

Dog trainer mantra: "...a tired dog is a good dog..." This dog is not exercised enough. He should be walked 3 Xs a day for at least 30 minutes

In addition to walking he needs yard time. If you have a yard play fetch with him. Based on your complaint I suppose he will not return a ball so use 6-8 tennis balls. Quickly throw them one at at a time even tho he doesn't return any he will chase after them - after the last one is thrown, you pick them up and start all over again.

If you don't have a yard use a hallway or a stairway.

He is not taking stuff cause he is a brat, he has learned that when does that he gets attention. If you do more walks and use the tennis balls to play with him, you may see him stop doing this behavior.....

....but, if not....

... when he will not drop stuff here is what you can do:
Don't chase him...instead, get a GREAT treat (small piece of cheese or a dab of peanut butter) and a dog toy that sqeaks.

Then run AWAY from him while you squeak the toy and make kiss-y noises and say his name in high pitched excited tone of voice.

He will start to chase you.

Keep moving, keep your back to him, but slow down and slowly turn to face him.

If he has already dropped the aniaml or pillow that you want, that's great, tell him "Good boy, leave it", give him the treat and then the dog toy and maybe do a little big of tug-o-war with the toy (but if he gets too into the tug game just let go)

If he still has the pillow or toy in his mouth hold the treat inside your fist, put the fist to his nose so he can smell it, and as soon as the pillow falls out of his mouth, tell him "Good boy, leave it", open your fist, give him the treat and then the toy.

Clicker Dog Training Will Make Your Pet the Next Neighbourhood Wonder


  • Keep your stuffed animals / pillows out of reach of the puppy. Try teaching him the "Leave it" command
    Make sure you have treats.. bones.. chew toys.. etc on hand.
    http://www.dog-obedience-training-review…

  • tell him to stop lol.

  • Umm...IF you cannot train him and correct him to stop then I see no reason for you to have a dog...Its called correcting him and punishing him when you see him doing that...

    If you cannot train him then you need to give him to someone who CAN

  • At 3 years he has you trained. Keep the baby gaits up. That's something that could of been changed earlier probably not now at 3.
    When young we give the pup a firm NO and give it proper chew item. And keep close eye so you catch them every time.

  • Part about you took the dog to dog training classes and it didn't work, You need to keep training. You just don't stop , its for life of the dog.

    You should have been taught the leave it command at those training classes , if you didn't then check the web on how to teach your dog to leave it.

  • Wait until he gets clever enough to climb the baby gate! You need to address this and break the habit.

    Teach the "drop it" and "leave it" commands.

    Don't leave shoes and stuffed toys where he can get them. I know it is simple, but shoes have your "smell" on them and can be comforting. Also, if the dog is allowed plush toys, he can't differentiate between his squeaky squirrel and the baby's teddy bear.

    You may want to consider more training. You could either enroll in additional classes or just get a good training book and work at home. A dog can't be trained in just a few weeks. You should work commands at least a few times per week just for reinforcement. Good luck, he can learn if you are willing to work with him.

  • I would leave the baby gates so he can't get to your stuff and only remove them if/when you can change his habits. Put everything out of his reach so that he can't get it. We have a 9 week old puppy and we say that if its on the floor, its fair game for the dog.

    I think that your problem is that the dog thinks that he is the alpha (As dogs are pack animals). He therefore won't do anything that you want. You need to assert your authority and teach him his place in the household, which should be below people.

    There are ways of communicating to the dog that he is not the top of the 'pack'. Always make him eat last as alpha dogs get to eat first. Make him sleep and lay on the floor as alphas get the comfiest beds. Read a good dog behaviour book so that you understand how to teach him where his position in his 'pack' is. And as soon as he picks up something you don't want him to, yank it off him and say "No" firmly. Give him a chew toy or stick instead.

    Maybe the dog is bored - are you giving him enough of a healthy outlet to chew? Dogs naturally need to chew and need a lot of toys.

    One solution is that when you are out of the house put him in a dog playpen with his bed, a toilet and some toys that he is allowed to chew. Only allow him free reign in the house when you are there to correct his behaviour.

    If there is nothing that works, I suggest you either learn to live with it and keep stuff out of his way or consult an animal behaviourist.
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Thursday, January 19, 2012

Dog Health Questions: Dog training vs leting dog have freedom?

i couldn't really word the title well. Okay, so i trained my dog for about 2 hours a day. Which included walks, just looking at me, coming back to me, and then in house training learning tricks. When i did a lot, meeko seemed to love it at first then when I starrted teaching him new tricks, like cover eyes, or anything that doesnt involve lots of moving, he got bored. If it involved lots of movement, he liked it a little more.

Now, i didnt do as much training this week cuz he got neutered so since we didnt do lots of training, he seems happier and listens to me a lot more and wants to be with me. when we walk, and i dont nag him, he barely pulls... why is this?

I train (about 5-10 mins each session unless its walks) and he ignores me more vs not training as much (i still did his basic tricks which he loves) and he now wants to be with me and comes to me on his own now). Did i over work him even though it was short sessions.

oh also he pays A LOT more attention to me now

Dog Training Tips - Dog Distraction Training



Recommended Answer:
If you are too repetitive they will get bored. Now that he's obeying reliably, you don't have to drill him on his behaviors. A little bit every day and when it's practical is enough. Maybe try to think of some creative ways to work his training in to his schedule or even some new things to work on.

Is Dog Training Necessary? Part 1


  • Do you give Meeko treats, a toy or affection for a reward?

  • You didn't say how old he is puppy'ss can go through "teen" phases when they don'tlisten very well, just keep up with the positive training.

    Good luck

  • It sounds like he's young and needs to burn off some energy before he can concentrate on trick-learning. Try walking him first, then spending short amounts of time training tricks (several 10 minute sessions rather than an hour-long session).

    Good for you for being so diligent about training. Sounds like he'll be a great dog.
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Saturday, December 31, 2011

Dog Health Questions: What do you think about Don Sullivan's Dog Training?

I love it...I have amazing results with a 7month boxer...What else is there out there?

Dog Training Clubs - A Great Way to Help Train and Socialize Your Dog



Recommended Answer:
It depends..

You could attend group training classes in your area.

You can get a trainer to come to your house and work with you and your dog.

You can get dog training books which you can borrow from a library, buy at a bookstore or buy online ebooks and courses.

I personally have been to classes but while that was good a book that you can refer to at different times works best for me.

Here is a popular course that has lots of good testimonies.

Dog Training Classes - Dog Training to Unleash Your Dog's Full Potential


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    Wednesday, December 21, 2011

    Dog Health Questions: Dog training at Pet Smart?

    Has anyone had their dog trained there or know anyone who has?
    Is it worth the cost?

    Top 6 Dog Training Mistakes - Are You Making These Mistakes When Dog Training?



    Recommended Answer:
    I went to school elsewhere to be a trainer and have been training for over 10 yrs. We got a PetSmart in and I work for them now something to do part time. You REALLY need to go and meet the trainers. You will know if you have a good one or not. The training is good and I do not approve of classes that have play time for the dogs. They don't need to play to get socialization. Some of the owners have no clue. Like when the pups are playing and biting each other. They are yelling at their dogs to stop. They don't understand it's puppy play even after you explain it to them over and over. So what if a fight would break out. I don't need some owners freezing up on me.

    Socialization is getting them out of the home and exposed to different enviroments. Just being inside the store and around other dogs is socialization.

    Yes the trainers are taught to teach the classes a certain way. We are to teach certain things during that week. There are some robot trainers who follow the book to a tee.
    I don't.
    We have fun and joke around during class. It is a good time for all. I go above and beyond what I am supposed to do.

    PetSmart is not bad place to go you just have to find the right trainer. It is all about Positive Reinforcement and that is great.

    We have a new manager so I will not be at PetSmart much longer She does not like me cause I speak my mind and I am not afraid of her like everyone else and she does not like my demo dogs. She is not a personable person, she is rude and uncaring even towards the customers.

    So what am I getting at.... check out the enviroment and attitudes of the employees. Customers can feel the difference in the enviroment at our store now and comment on it.

    What You Need to Know About Dog Training


    • Pet Smart dog trainers are all trained to give the same classes the exact same way.

      Each individual trainer may be different personality wise and may or may not like their job, just like anything else, you can find a bad one or you can find an excellent one.

      One thing you should be aware of - if your Pet Smart has a Vet's Office within the store, you could put your puppy at risk for Parvo and other possible contagious viruses. Most sick animals will have to walk the entire store to get to the Vet's Office. If they have an accident along the way and it's not cleaned correctly - your puppy can pick up that virus.

      I loved going to the dog club/kennel club for my dogs training - you don't have to be a member, and the dog will have to be at least 5 months old and have rabies and kennel cough vaccines before being allowed into the class. What was nice for me was the club had some property in the back of the building that was fenced in and the puppies could play together before class and rid themselves of their extra energy so class goes a bit smoother for you and your puppy.

      Also the dog club/kennel club has classes that not only are for puppies, but once you have passed through one class you can advance to another clear through agility training. I loved that idea. Gives the puppies alot more confidence and stability.

      I don't have anything against training at Pet Smart just use caution when you take your pets to one that has a Vet's office in the rear of the store.

      Training is always worth the money invested - you get not only some good tips but you also socialized you puppy at the same time - and the plus is the stronger bond and respect you get from your dog.

      Everyone will have a good and bad opinion of any training class, use your own judgement, you can talk to the trainer before you sign up and some places will even let you observe a/or several training sessions before you commit to one or another.

      Best of Luck with your Decision

    • hi, I'm a dog trainer by profession. i also was a manager at pet smart for a while here in north Carolina. while i was there, i started pet training classes(not from pet smart), once finished i became a pro trainer. to answer your question, no. not in my opion. the trainers there have had very little or no professional training. i had customers come to me all the time and tell me it did not work for there dog, and want there money back. i recommend looking on the Internet of phone book for a good trainer. the only thing to know is to ask for credentials. well hope this helps, brad

    • YOU have to find that out. every petsmart has individual trainers, and your particular petsmart may have terrible trainers, or incredible ones.
      the class we took was pretty good. i disagreed with the trainer on a few very minor points, but she used positive methods and was intelligent.

      i do prefer classes that encourage more socialization, though -- like ones that start with a few minutes of play. (hard to find those..)

    • NO!!! I watched a couple of their classes, they are a joke. Find a real trainer and take a class somewhere else. Ask around at your parks department, breeders, 4H groups, at a local dog show with obedience competitions, ask those people. The petsmart people that I saw were no good.

    • maybe you should get some early readings. and try to know other training centers that can offer you the same services.

      check out this link:
      http://dogtime.com/training-center.html
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    Thursday, November 3, 2011

    Dog Health Questions: Petsmart Versus Petco in Puppy/Dog Training?

    I'm thinking about adopting a puppy or dog in summer and was wondering where I should train him/her. Petsmart and Petco both having training programs, but I don't know which to choose! If you have any information you'd like to share, please do. (costs, effective training, better classes, anything) Also, feel free to tell me which of the two stores you prefer and why. Thanks!

    Discover the Secrets to Guard Dog Training



    Recommended Answer:
    I'm not a fan of either of them. Both have moved to "training" their store clerks how to teach training classes (rather than hiring experienced trainers)... which may be workable if all the dogs (and their humans) are capable of learning in their specific method... but makes no real allowances for the oddball dog (or human owner). Problem solving skills are minimal.

    Local kennel clubs and training facilities are a far better choice for the money. (Personally, I'd chose a training facilitie since they would not still be in operation if they had not been successfully training dogs).

    Traditional Dog Training Versus Positive Reinforcement Dog Training - A Comparison


    • I usually go to local kennel clubs. They are run by reputable trainers, whose methods I agree with.

      If you don't have one, check out both stores trainers and question them about their methods. You can also try doing a week or so with each, and choosing which works better for your dog.

    • Ideally, you should avoid the trainer in a box scenario and find a training club/center in your area. You'll get much better results. It's not unlike going to see the local Minute Clinic vs. seeing your regular physician.

      In addition, if you find a training center in your area they will offer more classes like agility, flyball, obedience for competition, etc.

    • it depends on how much you are willing to spend on the training first. because Petsmart and Petco could have differnent prices on training. so you should look into both places and ask first before buying a puppy or dog

    • If I had to go this route I'd probably go to my local PetSmart as the training seems to be done out in the open with half walls (solid bottom and glass tops - creats a more "open" atmosphere). Plus I know they guarantee that if your dog doesn't succeed you can take the class over again at no charge (so they are confident in their training methods).

      I say this b/f the person who trains at my local PetSmart seems to always be there when I go in. Plus I know that part of the PetSmart program is to train the dog within the store - which is think is a big plus. Reason why is that while any dog can behave WELL in a structured environment, it's when they got outside of that environment you still want them to behave (ie: coming to you when you call in the house is good, but coming to you when you are outside and people and cars are around is 100x better).

      Good luck!

      But I would simply ask if you can sit in on one class,at no cost to you, at each location to see what their teaching methods are like. If they are reputable places then they know that they can easily sell their services by letting you do this and the class will sell themselves.
    Read More...

    Saturday, October 22, 2011

    Dog Health Questions: Can I get some help/advice with dog training?

    I taught my puppy to sit.
    I taught my puppy to sit and shake

    I just taught her how to "speak" on command but now since we have been working on that so much.... she immidiatly thinks I want her to "speak" when I am asking her to sit! Poor thing is confused. Any advice?

    How do I teach her to lay down? She does start training 1 week from today. I hired a dog trainer to come into our home. I just want her to know some things now.

    A Guide to Basic Dog Training Principles



    Recommended Answer:
    maybe the words speak and sit sound to much alike for your puppy to tell the difference, also in my experience when you work on one command so much the dog either forgets the other command or gets so use to the one command it automatically will do the same command hoping it will get it right, kinda like what kids do when they learn colors or numbers or there letters, what is this color and they say blue. If blue is the only color that they have learned they are going to say blue to every color that they see even if its not blue, and they can tell the difference but they don't know any other color to shout out, same with if they learn the color red then you spend weeks teaching them the color green and then you go back and ask them what the color red is they are going to say green because that is the freshest color in their mind, I'm not saying only teach the doggie one command but as you teach them one command don't forget to refresh them on their previously learned commands.

    Is Dog Training Necessary? Part 1


    • Are your words or hand signals too similar for those two actions?

      When my dog was in a sitting position, i would put a treat in front of him and slowly move my hand to the floor. He would follow the treat, and often lay down when I did that. Now, his hand signal for lay down is a downward motion with my hand.

    • I would get a treat in one hand and say down as you bring the treat down to the ground slowly. they will follow the hand movement and make her lay down for a couple seconds. or you can take take your index and middle finger and put them together and signal the two fingers up and then down.remember to give a happy praise with a high pitched voice if she lays down for at least 5 seconds. ( sorry if i cant explain that very well)

    • well since she's learning speak, make sure you teach her "quiet" too!
      to teach laying down you can put the treat in front of the dogs nose and then bring the treat down under something, use your leg or a table, so that the dog is forced to lay down to follow the treat with it's nose. also, try teaching with hand signals rather than just words, something to show the difference between sit and speak. lol. just google training videos :)
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    Saturday, October 15, 2011

    Dog Health Questions: What's with all the dog training? I can remember the Grandpa and old dog scenes from my life...huh?

    I have a dog and we DO train it...
    But I just go to thinking....do any of you have memories of older men and their dogs on porches? Those guys could typically get their dogs to do what they wanted when they wanted.....so.....why do we need all these books and stuff?

    I wonder what we are doing wrong?
    Is it a time factor? I wonder if these people just spent more time with their animals?

    Thoughts?

    Dog Training Has Many Benefits



    Recommended Answer:
    They trained their dogs also, just in a more simply way. They probably didn't own a leash, most of them worked on the farm or hunted.
    Most people today want to be able to take their dogs on walks and interact with others. I have to admit I applaud the people that spend the time and even the money to make their dogs social and well behaved. I'm sure you have seen the ones that aren't

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    • I think it was more like the dog did what it wanted, which was to sleep on the porch. Dogs used to run lose, not now they have to be on a leash and people are more concerned with their social behavior. Most dogs you used to see way back when were mutts. Now there is a mix.
    Read More...

    Saturday, September 17, 2011

    Dog Health Questions: Is 13 old enough to get my son started in dog training?

    My son has been going to the fights with me since he was 5 and he absolutely loves watching the dogs perform. I have not got him into the training side of it yet because I always thought he was to small to control a dog. Now that he is older though he will not stop begging me to teach him how to train them. Do you think a 13 year old is responsible enough to train.

    Using Dog Training Collars to Train Your Dog



    Recommended Answer:
    You want to know if a bunch of strangers on YA think you should allow your 13 year old child to train fighting dogs? No. I do not. I do, however, think that you should be shot with thousands of bean bag rounds.

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    • Hi ,

      After having dogs all my life, I have found that dog training is as individual as teaching a child the alphabet. Dogs have their own mind and learn in different ways just as humans. I did find this site (http://www.dog-training-schools.org) that has many helpful videos, products and articles related to dog training that may be helpful to you in deciding which way is best to train your dog.

    • Yes definitely. 13 is a good age to teach your child how to train his dog :)

    • I believe that he is old enough to train. Make sure he understands the dangers and safety precautions involved in training. You might want to supervise him at first to make sure.

    • Please visit http://dogtraining.theeasiestway.net/ to get answers to your
      dog training needs. There are videos and articles answering your question.

    • I think 13 is old enough I started when I was 9 but thing are different here in romania.

    • It's awfully early for trolling already. . .I don't even have my game face on yet.
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    Saturday, August 20, 2011

    Dog Health Questions: Are there any sites with tips for dog training?

    I have a dog that I'm trying to train. Instead of buying a book, are there any dog training sites I can go on and look at instructions and tips for free?

    Search and Resuce Dog Training, Learning to Save Lives



    Recommended Answer:
    You need a full and proven training program.

    "SitStayFetch" is one of the most popular dog training products on the market written by Daniel Stevens, an experienced dog trainer, for every dog owners who know that the experience of training their dog has or will continue to establish a better relationship with their four legs friend.

    First when I read SitStayFetch ebook, I was surprised at lots of information has been covered. The 186 page book is broken down into different sections step-by-step, each one dealing with a different aspect of dog ownership. SitStayFetch starts from a basic that dog owner should know. For instance, things to consider before adopting a dog, choosing the right breed, dealing with breeders, the secrets of dog training; and then moves on at common dog problems including biting and nipping, aggression, jealousy, digging holes, disobedience, separation anxiety, fights with other dogs, destructive behavior and even understanding how your dog thinks.

    The core of SitStayFetch system is the communication between dog and owner. Daniel Stevens understands that most of common dog problems are from the lack of communication. Your dog simply doesn't understand what you want. SitStayFetch demonstrates how dogs communicate, what are they thinking, how you can communicate with them effectively.

    This simple technique helps in improving the relationship between you and your dog. And it also doesn't just focus on one or two aspects of dog ownership. SitStayFetch deals with all common problem behaviors, step-by-step approach tells you exactly what to do and when to do it.

    SitStayFetch works because of the tips and advice come directly from the author's real-life experience. You also can sign up for free 6 days mini course which covers selected training methods and behavior fixing methods that are used in SitStayFetch ebook.

    So if you want to have a good relationship with your dog and get rid of dog problems, I think SitStayFetch will definitely help you reach your goals.

    Check my source, hope it helps. Good luck!

    Animal Husbandry And Other Unnatural Acts: A Career in Dog Training


    • www.Iams.com/Dog-Training

      www.dog-obedience-training-review.com/

      www.101-dog-training-tips.com/

      www.TheDogTrainingClinic.com

    • http://www.peteducation.com/ is a great site for training tips.

      Good luck training your dog.

    • Well i think petsmart.com has some good tips for dog training.

    • A good site that has lots of tips and articles as well as reviews of all the main online courses in dog obedience training is:

      http://www.sitstayfetch-dog-obedience-tr…

      I bought a couple of products from this website but the best one in my opinion is Sitstayfetch.
    Read More...