Dog Health Questions: Petsmart training classes?

I am considering beginner training classes for my 5 month old pom. She has behavioral problems such as trying to bite and growling when I try to take something from her. Also when she tried to bite the lady at her spay appt. while she was trying to put a label around my pups neck. I tried socializing her as much as I could when she was younger, but she obviously has temperamental problems.

So my question is for those who have had their dogs trained if you think it is worth it. Also what can I do meanwhile to better my dog. And please please let me know your success stories with training. Thanks!

Dog Training Leash - A Basic Method You Need To Have

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my experience with petsmart training classes is they are a cooperate way to get money out of you. i have seen very few dogs even able to sit and stay for the reccomended 3 mins by the end of one of their obedience classes. when i've been in the store on their doggy graduation night, most of the dogs in the class can't even sit and stay long enough to take their graduation pic.

for a dog with starting behavioral issues that are showing aggresssion, you need better training than what any petsmart i've ever seen can provide.

contact your local kennel clubs or your vet and ask for references.

i'm very happy you see this as a problem and want to correct it now rather than later.

my reccomendation is to find a training class that trains towards a CGC. or Canine Good Citizen test. By the end of that class your dog should sit, stay, but also they train the dog to react properly to stressful situations, and teach them how to be examined by a vet or groomer and properly accept praise. they also train them how to act in social situations. or rather they show you how to properly train your dog. i have yet to see a petsmart obedience class that comes anywhere near the CGC certification by the end of their classes.

Also these trainers if they think your dog needs further instruction they can send you in the right direction to someone who will better suit you and your dog's needs.

Please don't waste your money at a petsmart class. Their trainers go through a basic training course most any 12 year old could pass before they are turned loose with their own group of dogs to train.

Dog Training Leash - A Basic Method You Need To Have

• Yes, do the training! I had similar issues with my mastiff pup and training has tatally corrected the behaviors. The first step is you establishing dominance over your dog, and that is a major hurdell. There are many simple little games that you can play with your dog to help train it and if you are consistant it will pay off. And double up on the socialization, and imediatly punish the dog with an acceptable form of punishment when it missbehaves. A water bottle works ell, and they are sold in a pocket size. Good for you in considering training. A lot of people would tell you to get rid of a biting dog, but I turned my dogs behavior around with a trainers help when I thought there was no hope, you can do it too!


• PetsMart won't allow aggressive dogs or problem dogs in their classes. You need to find a trainer who has experience with dogs that have aggression issues. Try to get a referral from your vet.
  Training has made my shy, abused dog gain more confidence.
  Training has made my dogs easier to live with.
  Training has given my dogs more freedom because I can take them places and trust them not to drag me on the leash, come when I call them, and act properly around strangers.
  Training has made my dogs safer to be around. My vet loves my nicely trained dogs. He knows that he can handle them and not worry about getting bit.
  Trained dogs are welcome in more places.
  So get your dog to a training class so that you learn to train her to respect you. Small dogs are just fun to train.


• I think training works, if you do the homework each day. You cannot go to training once a week and do nothing til the next week. You really need to work with your dog each day, plus you can't quit after training either. You can lighten up, of course, but don't stop altogether. The trainers say that they are training you on how to train your dog.


• Most definitely, poms are very stubborn. I love the breed I have two of them. They are just hateful. They are also very yappy as you probably know. I really think all dog's need some kind of training. If your pup is already starting to bit aggressively take it, it will be the best thing for you and it. Pom's are very smart and learn quick so I am sure you will be pleased. Good Luck!!!


• I went to a private training class that was cheaper and a better use of my time than Petsmart.
  
  I used to work at a Petsmart and helped with the training. I was not impressed and highly DON'T recommend it to anyone.ADDITION: I had my dog in a CGC class last year, and it only cost $60.


• I have watched the training while shopping for my voracious cats. They looked very attentive and engaging....not the pets, the trainers. Why not observe a few Saturday classes from the aisle before making your decision?

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Dog Health Questions: Have you ever used a choke collar on your dog and they actually choked themselves?

I am trying to train my Rottie. We found her in a pet rescue. She was there for over 6 months. The pet rescue found her in a humane society animal shelter and got her before they put her down. They dont' know how long she was in the humane society. She is one year old now and we have had for 2 months. She is now kennel trained and house broken. I am now trying to train her to walk on leash. She has walked on leash before with either the Halti head halter or the choke chain, but tonight she just freaked out. She started jumping up on me and now I am scratched and bruised all over my arms and chest and back. I was afraid that she would actually choke herself.

Yes, I was using the choke collar correctly. I have attended and participated in dog training before and have had my St. Bernard win 1st place Obedience in 4-H. This is also not the first Rottie I have had, but the first dog I have had that acted this way. Any help or suggestions is greatly appreciated.

Dog Training - The Reward Way

Recommended Answer:
Choke collars are actually considered to be an "old school" training method and aren't used as much any more. Mostly because if the correction isn't given correctly then the dog can be injured. If the dog continues to pull then the choker will cinch on the neck, preventing corrections and effectively choking the dog.

Prong collars are wider, and the pinching effects mimiks a mother dogs bite. They don't hurt the dog at all and are much more effective at stopping the dog from lunging or pulling than a simple choke collar. The possibility of a prong actually puncturing the dogs neck is slim as long as you use the collar correctly.

A few links for you to read:

http://www.8pawsup.com/articles/training…
http://www.i-love-dogs.com/dogsarticles/…
http://www.doganswers.com/collars.htm

Add - Of course, there is no substitute for proper obedience training. These collars are only tools - you take them off and the dog is likely to revert back to old habits unless he/she is properly trained.

Top 10 Dog Training Mistakes

• try a prong collar instead


• it very well might be an territory or dominance issue. It could also be he fears the choke collar. Try training him to heal and not pull on you. That's the only time i have considered using the choke lead. When they insist on tugging and pulling you all over. If he/she doesn't do that. Than no worries.
  good luck!


• choke collars are able to choke dogs, but all they do when used properly is tighten on the dog's throat when they pull on you or you pull on the leash. your best bed would be to bring her to an obedience class. (don't leave the collar on without supervision because they can be dangerous! always take if off after the walk and leave a regular leather collar on her)


• generally with dominance they do not display that kind of behavior when walking. i personally have never heard of a dog actually choking themselves, i would imagine it could happen if the chain gets stuck tightened the whole way, but not with human supervision. if you are worried about it then just stick to the halti until you can get her walking with you properly. then if you want you can switch to the choke just for correction.


• The trainer with the rescue I foster for does not use choke collars at all. He says the collar can built up scar tissue around a dog's neck and you have to use increasing force for the collar to be effective. He advices us to use a prong collar. I use one on my dog and don't have to use it to correct her anymore. She understand she has to obey when the collar is in place.


• NO! I think those things should be outlawed. Its called a choke chain for a reason, ofcourse it is going to choke the animal. Throw that thing in the trash..


• g'day
  
  a family member of mine has cattle dogs, and used the choke chain incorrectly, they used it as a full time collar... long story short, their neighbour rang them at work and said get here quick, the dog was frothing at the mouth and its eyes were bulgy and blood-shot. - he's ok now though. poor little thing.
  
  i have 2 cattle dogs myself and i used the choke chain, but it didnt seem to help much just made the dogs jump at me and made them gasp for breath... not so helpful.
  
  now i use a doggy car harness, and halti when walking them. I also have a ultra-sonic dog whistle, so whenever they try and jump up, etc, have it ready, give it a small blow and it emits an unpleasant sound (for dogs) that will confuse the dog. after a while, they stopped jumping.
  
  it worked for me, i hope this helps.
  
  cheers
  
  ps -
  
  this is similar to the doggy car harness i have, but i bought it from 'Big W' - much cheaper
  
  http://www.doggypartyplan.com.au/Travell…
  
  This is the halti i use (again, cheaper at big retail stores)
  
  http://www.itsadogshop.com/prod376.htm
  
  and, this is the Ultrasonic Dog Whistle
  
  http://www.amazon.com/Dogit-Ultrasonic-T…


• It isn't a 'choke' collar, it is a chain training collar and should only be used on a dog when you are training it. All dogs are different so your past experience means little as it was pretty limited - you didn't really learn a lot, sorry but just the way it is since you don't have the experience to know how to properly use a chain training collar and have some opposition to using a prong training collar appropriately. Very few people actually are terribly knowledgeable regarding the proper use of either and you will likely need to find a good training class to help teach you to better train your dog. The head halter or harness type collars don't train anything except to ignore you.
  
  Yes, if left on or allowed to be used improperly, a chain training collar can indeed choke a dog. Please learn to properly use one where it doesn't. The collar should never be tight, ever - the clip of the leash should always hang down - if these things are being done, there is no way to choke.
  
  add: ANY collar/harness/halter can be abusive if improperly used. Chain training collars are no more 'old school' than are leashes - it has just become fad for people who don't know how to properly train a dog to go to a prong to make themselves feel better and to, usually incorrectly, utilize them to gain some sort of pseudo-control. Both can be abusive and both can do harm. I have pulled prongs out of the trachea of dogs... I have seen dogs get collapsed trachea from buckle collars and suffer cervical damage from halter type collars. Any and all training tools can and are often misused. And conversely any and all training tools can be PROPERLY utilized and be very helpful and successful. I utilize prongs for particular needs just as I utilize chain training collars for particular needs. I also use buckle collars for particular needs. They are all tools and are just aids to help a trainer achieve their desired responses. Just because someone who doesn't know what they are doing uses a wrench to screw up a car doesn't make the WRENCH a bad tool! haha
  
  add: Well, not sure I agree with the trainers or your perspective about 'listening to another female' (your dog isn't stupid enough to think of you as another dog dear) but it is good you are seeking assistance and considering options. Hopefully you will locate a trainer that actually knows about dogs (clue: scratches and bruises do not an 'attack' make - the first thing an attacking dog would do is bite and you would know right off the bat you were attacked -- this was more likely fear based loss of control - panic reaction - lucky she didn't pee all over in her panic) and get some good input.

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Dog Health Questions: Dog Training Question?

I have a 14 week old Shih Tzu and I'd like to begin training her (as in tricks).
I thought her sit (which she's pretty much mastered) but I was wondering how long the training session should be?
She's pretty smart :D

The Smart Way To Dog Training

Recommended Answer:
No more than 5 minutes each "lesson"
BUT
You can do lessons every 20-30 minutes.
So, on a weekend, you can get quite a few lessons in, and she should learn pretty fast.

Get the book "Dog Tricks for Dummies" it has some really cute things to teach dogs.

Basic Dog Training Obedience - Puppy Behavior Tips

• the training time should not be real long at this age. you could also take her to obedience and agility training class at this age.


• to start with it should be 15 mins slowly build up from there or they will become bored


• I agree with not more than 5 minutes. Puppies do not have very long attention spans and too much and will damage your progress and her attitude. Keep it short and fun and she will learn quickly.


• At this point in her training the sessions should be 2-6 minutes. Any longer and she may become bored. Use tiny pieces of treats to give as a reward and DON'T forget to praise the heck out of her!!
  
  As she masters her new commands take her into different rooms in your house and then outside to generalize the commands. This ensures that she will keep focus and perform for you in more distracting places. In a few months start taking her out to pet stores and even Vet's offices to practice. When you get to this level in her training you can start to expect more from her, keep it fun and positive, but don't let her blow you off.
  
  Good luck.

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Dog Health Questions: My dog has a few really small lumps on the back of his ears what could they be?

They are any were on the back of his ears and they go away after a while.they are skin colour with a small orange dot on top. You can only see them when you separate the fur but if you run your hand over the ear you can feel them. If they are scratched they bleed and the orange tip can be taken of but a new one will appear. We first thought they were grass seeds but they definitely aren't. They keep coming up on his ears and i just want to be sure they are nothing bad. Does any one know what they could be?Also my dog is a male german coolie cross from the rspca he is 3 in october (2 and 5 months) and we have 2 chickens male and female , two rabbits male and female, birds in an avery , koalas kangaroos and foxes often come into our Garden. we live on one acre and he often goes in paddocks with long grass has contact with seed grass and goes to dog training. he also plays with out next door neighbors dog.

Dog Breed in Relation to Dog Training

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I think that as long as they aren't hurting him when you touch them and they don't bother him they should be fine. Next time that you take him to the vets mention them to your vet, but they are probably nothing. My dog has a couple of lumps on his skin as well. Good luck!

Time-Tested Tips On Behavior Dog Training For Beginners

• ask a vet? sounds like fleas or eczema caused by fleas.

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Dog Health Questions: My dog barks at bikes when we go for walks!?

he also barks at guests when they come over AND HE WONT STOP! when we walk he is usually fine and ignores cars, and when he was a puppy he barked alot but not anymore. but when he sees a kid on a bike he spins in circles and barks aggresivley! and hes a big dog! i scold him and pull his leash back and make him stay at my side when a bike comes but NOTHING WORKS! and my mom cant afford pro dog training ughh HELP!

At-Home Dog Training Tips

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Oh wow... First of all let me just say that you should work with your dog, not against him. Painful corrections only make him fearful and can have long-term psychological effects. Desensitizing your dog to a bicycle is the best way to correct that particular behavior. When you see a bike headed your way on a walk, grab your dog's attention with treats and make him do commands that he already knows. (i.e. sit, shake, lay down, etc.) If he starts to react, walk him in the other direction. If you can, follow a safe distance behind the bike to show your dog that it will not harm him. Continually praising him when he is calm while following or in the presence of a bike will show him that good things happen when a bike is around and it is nothing to be aggressive toward.

As far as the barking at guests, using a removal technique is usually the best way to handle this behavior. When you have someone coming over, put your dog's leash on him and allow him to greet your guest (assuming that he is not aggressive towards people) When he gets riled up, simply remove him to another room for a few seconds until he calms down and try again. Though this method is tedious, it works for most dogs. Make sure to praise him and give treats to reward calm behavior. No dog is ever too old to learn new tricks or behaviors so long as they have a sturdy and patient hand.

Prong collars are horrible. To the person that uses them, do me a favor. Put the collar on yourself, and jerk it back as you do to your dogs. You do not want your dog to be submissive so much as you want your dog to respect you. Usually a submissive dog is a fearful dog and fearful dogs can turn into a ticking timebomb of pent up aggression.

I really hope this helps you correct your dog's behavior. Best of luck to you!

3 Secrets to Dog Training - Immediate Results

• You'll need to correct the dog when he acts in any way you don't consider appropriate. Each dog has a different reaction to a correction and only someone who interacts with the dog will know how the dog reacts, but you'll need to judge the correction and if the dog doesn't stop this time, try something stronger/harder the next time. The "correction" must be bad enough for the dog to think that it is worse than the satsifaction he would receive from doing what he wants. (Stealing food from the master's plate is tasty, but isn't worth the correction I could get)
  
  Example1: My GSD reacts to a sharp tug against his flat collar, but is "corrected" with the same tug of a prong collar. In fact, he yelps when I do it and goes to a down automatically. I don't force a stay and he will release himself from a down to a sit when he is ready. I still have to be ready to do this in drive-thrus because something sets him off. This is a work in progress, honestly.
  
  Example2: My lab, who has a much higher tolerance for a correction, will require a hard, sharp yank against his prong collar to stop doing something. He is much more laid back so this isn't required as often, but he does like to counter surf, and I have yet to figure out how much of a correction will keep him off the counter when there is butter present. Steak, chicken, cake....I know what that takes and he doesn't do it, but there is something about butter.
  
  Then, once you know how to correct and control your dog, put yourself in the situation where you will encounter bikes and invite guests over, so you can begin training. You need to teach him that you are his leader and it is your job to decide when and if we react/respond to a threat. If you remain calm then he will remain calm and if his body language indicates he is about to begin barking, then tell him no firmly and force him to a submissive pose like a down/stay and wait until he calms down/remains calm and the "threat" has passed. Over time, he'll learn that you are in control AND that these "threats" aren't really threats.
  
  Good luck.

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Dog Health Questions: Your opinions on dog clothes? Silly or cute?

Well, in my opinion warm waterproof coats for snow, fleeces in bitterly cold winds or a sweater is enough, right? Ok. Maybe a santa coat for an hour or so at christmas (Like the one my Pug wore at the christmas party at dog training, and maybe a halloween costume for an hour or so) but things like, jewellery, dresses, skirt and trousers? Thats ridiculous.

What do you think of clothes for dogs?

Dog Training Bumpers and Dummies

Recommended Answer:
My opinion is that dogs grow fur for a reason.
Unless the dog is hairless, or is very short coated and lives in a cold climate; dog clothing is a waste of money.

Effective Dog Training Tips

• Like you, for dogs that are unable to keep warm in winter, there's nothing wrong with giving them coats on - on the contrary. I would never dress a dog up, though.
  
  My breed of dog doesn't have problems with the cold, so none of my dogs have ever worn clothes. The only exception have been that I have occasionally tied a red or a pink "scarf" around my dog's neck when bringing her to the city. Not for the dog's sake, but I noticed that many people are afraid of my dog and walk in huge circles around us, but when she wears the "scarf", she apparently appears much less threatening and gets more positive attention.


• My Chihuahua wears a coat in the winter, and a sweater when it rains, because he gets so cold, other than that and a princess halloween costume for the pom. we think that they are silly. We also have collars with little rhinestones on them, and sparkley paw prints, but it's not Jewelry. the girl dog looks like a boy to other people, so we wanted her to have something feminine. the other dog has a john deere collar, because he looks like a girl. it should be up to the owner, with respect to the dog.


• Unless you have a dog that seriously can not tolerate cold weather (like a Chihuahua, Greyhound, Chinese Crested ect.) I see no need for a dog to wear a coat. Shih Tzus, Labradors, Poodles, and many breeds are perfectly capable in keeping themselves warm. However, if your dog is spending over an hour outdoors than they obviously need a coat.
  
  People are spoiling their pets, I'm sure a dog could quickly get used to the weather without a coat on. However, I do believe dogs should wear boots for protection when it snows.This is just my opinion you may disagree.
  Ruffwear Boots:http://www.ruffwear.com/Barkn-Boots-Grip…
  
  Raincoats aren't necessary either unless you live in an area that often has heavy downpours. You can easily just wipe a dog dry when you get home.
  Soggy Dog Towel: http://www.farfetchedinc.com/site/produc…
  
  Clothes for special occasions like holidays are fine, as long as the dog doesn't show any obvious discomfort.
  Dogs in a Wedding:http://www.petoccasion.com/dogsimages/br…
  
  Owners with dogs that have wardrobes are ridiculous! Especially the ones that buy swim suits & sandals for their dog.
  See embarrassed dogs: http://dogdressonline.com/images/Bikini.…
  http://www.antipope.org/feorag/blogpix/d…


• my two small dogs wear jackets and sweaters ONLY when they go out side in the winter we live in WI and it gets very cold and they both have very short hair. We also tried little bootie things for them because they step out in the snow and freeze up and start crying when the snow gets between their paws but it was short lived they hated them so we stopped putting them on. Like I said they do wear jackets and sweaters in the cold though. I saw a dog wearing some jewellery the other day and I thought it was pretty crazy but what ever floats their boats I guess!


• I think that it should be up to the owners. Some dogs really seem to like clothing. As long as it doesn't make them too hot, it seems ok. It's like saying...grooming...silly or cute? Especially the way poodles are groomed. Or putting ribbons in a dogs fur, to make like ponytails. When a dog's fur is cut or trimmed, some dogs react differently. Some act like they are ashamed of the way they look, some act proud. Same with clothing. Most dogs aren't used to it at first since it isn't natural, but I have seen dogs who love to dress up. In my opinion though, if you live in a warm climate, don't put a sweater on a dog who was bred for cold climates. Eg. Don't put a sweater on a border collie if you live in Hawaii.


• big dogs- not necessary. small dogs- necessary and cute! winters like here in new york, canada and michigan can be really cold. Small dogs shiver in the cold and they could get sick. Therefore i buy cute dog clothes such as sweaters, jackets, coats etc. Plus i think clothes also keeps dogs clean.
  
  visit http://www.poochitoutou.com for cute clothes. practical casual clothes- nothing drag queen like. XD


• I think that if you own a breed with a short coat, that they don't have enough fat or fur to keep them warm enough in cold weather and they do need something to keep them warm. I don't see anything wrong with putting a sweater on the dog in cold weather! Dogs are not accessories and other than the reason above, I don't think that it's necessary to dress them in clothing or jewelry! They are not dolls!


• Dumb.
  
  Most of my small dogs wear sweaters when its cold, and sweatshirts at night, but thats because they are cold (and burrow under the covers, if they dont have them on).
  
  They also have raincoats for when we go walking in the rain, but I think purely decorative clothing is dumb.
  
  Okay - my rat terrier has a letter jacket, but its a JACKET :o)


• Only two(three but it's lumped into one catagory and I'll explain) clothing items qualify:
  
  1)Life Vests. I know dogs can "Swim". So can we humans, but better safe then sorry.
  2)Tactical Anti-Stab/Ballistics Vest, K9 Tactical Goggles, and K9 Rescue boots. These items are for ensuring a working or service dog doesn't get injured or Hurt. Regular Hiking books for your dog are acceptable too for a specific reason as are backpacks.
  
  That's it.


• I feel like it's ridiculous and kind of insulting. Here and there it's okay but I really hate when people dress up their dog EVERY day. If it's really cold outside then I don't see anything wrong with a little jacket or sweater and a cute outfit every now and then just for a photo op, lol.


• I have no problem with clothes for dogs, especially if it is cold out a jacket or sweater is acceptable. I also see no problem with dressing your dog up for halloween, HOWEVER, I do find some of the outfits I've seen completely ridiculous and wasteful, kinda like Lady Gaga's wardrobe.


• coats for the snow rain are fine my dog was clipped all year round and wore a coat if it was cold or raining
  
  But dressing a dog up that is wrong that is what dolls are for


• personally i think all dog clothes are kind of silly. But some of it is cute. jewlery is definitely going to far.


• If its to keep the dog warm then theres nothing wrong with it.
  If its to just dress them up then theres an issue there.


• Silly, except for a coat in really cold weather

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Dog Health Questions: Dog training?

I have a 14 week old Shih-Tzu puppy. At what age should she be able to pick up commands like sit, roll-over, speak, shake, etc? (btw, she already does sit fairly well)

Dog Training Collars Are Not All Alike

Recommended Answer:
At 12 weeks old, a dog's capability to learn is the same as it is as an adult.

So, at 14 weeks old, your dog should be able to learn all of these commands just as if she were a year old!

Top 10 Dog Training Mistakes

• It depends on the dog. Some are more mature at younger ages. With a Shih Tzu, it's definately time to begin but just be patient, she has a baby brain.


• She can learn those now! Just keep your training sessions short and sweet, like 5 minutes, a few times per day. A few weeks from now, increase them to 10 minutes if you think her attention span can handle it!
  
  Practice, practice, practice! Make it fun for her, and she'll love training if she always gets rewarded for good performance. Be patient, don't get frustrated if she doesn't pick it up right away, she's learning!
  
  Its best to work on one at a time. So keep doing "sit" every day, until she's mastered it, then move on to another command.
  
  Good luck!


• Most puppies pick up on commands and expectations very quickly. It varies by breed. Keep working with her, be consistent.


• A puppy as young as four weeks can learn simple commands using positive reinforcement. You don't expect them to perform like an older dog, but they can learn. And learning early teaches them how to learn making future training much easier.


• You can start very basic training, such as name recognition, sit and so on, at around 8 weeks old. But remember, little puppies have VERY SHORT attention spans. It's much better to practice for a minute or two three times a day, than try to go for 10 minutes once a day.
  
  You can find a lot of free information, tips and advice on training your puppy at this url
  
  Once your puppy has had all her shots, she should attend a puppy obedience class. These are a great way for you both to learn new things, improve your communication skills and are invaluable socialization experiences for your pup. You can find out how to pick a good dog obedience school here http://www.the-puppy-dog-place.com/dog-o…
  
  Best of luck with here http://www.the-puppy-dog-place.com/puppy…


• AWWWW!!!! ****-zu puppies are very sweet little dogs. Well before training just make sure your little one knows you are the boss, even though you are bigger, she can still think she is in controll of you, and if that is the case she will not take commands from you. So if she knows you are the boss, (she can learn this by you punsihing her, act like you are eating her food and then give to her and on walks make her walk beside you. Then she will know you are the ALPHA or Boss dog) (although you arent a dog!! lol)
  
  Ok. The answer to your ?.
  
  Start now! It may take a little while for her bark box to start working on treats, (we have a 1 yr old westie that wont bark when we dont give her a treat so she might not learn that one!) So you might have to wait a little on the speak but otherwise start ASAP. The earlier the better. Also you can teach her tricks like bang where she lays down on back with hands up when you make a gun with hand and say, "bang" all the guests will think it is funny, after she knows that teach her, "bang and pray for mercy" where after she bangs, put her paws together and say, "pray for mercy" that one is really cute too. Guests usually like to see what a cute little puppy like yours can do at such a young age so you can start anytime. And just remember, YOU ARE THE BOSS, when she knows that, she will follow whatever you say and you will have the best doggie ever!
  
  GOOD LUCK
  AND IMPRESS YOU GUESTS AND FRIENDS WITH A WELL TRAINED LITTLE ****-ZU PUPPY DOG!!!!!!! :p!
  -SARAH-


• I recommend you visit the website I went to when my dog had behavioral issues a while back. It transformed my dog's behavior. It also talks about command as well. Good Luck!

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Dog Health Questions: Tell me some dog training school in chennai(madras)?

tell me some trainin schools or contact numbers of trainers....plz send me reputed ones coz i dont want to pay and end up havin an untrained dog...thanks in advance

Free Dog Training Tips - Train Your Dog

Recommended Answer:
I am assuming that you have check online. Have you tried putting an ad in your newspaper for one. Another great idea is talk to local vets. You would be surprised how many they know, and a vet will not recommend someone they do not approve of. Trust me.

Dog Behaviour Training - Take Dog Training Classes

• buy a book on the breed of the puppy. this is your child teach him what you want. it just takes 30 min. a day the book will guide in the right dir.


• Sorry, don't know where chennai is, otherwise I would invite you to join one of my classes. Ask your vet, they usually have some insight as to what is available in your area.
  Please note: the school trains YOU. You train the dog. So if you spend a lot of money and end up with an untrained dog, it's your fault.


• train the dog yourself

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Dog Health Questions: Therapy Dog Training?

Does anyone know anything about the requirements for having a Therapy Dog in Newark, NY or Rochester, NY?

Crate Training Your Dogs - Ultimate Dog Training Method

Recommended Answer:
Therapy dogs are trained, tested, registered and insured so that they will be invited to visit facilities such as hospitals and nursing homes to cheer up the patients, or to schools for educational programs.

Requirements are not set at the state level, but by the individual organization that does the testing and registering and by the facilities that do the inviting. If you have a specific facility you wish to visit, ask them first if they permit therapy animal visits and then what their requirements are. Some will only accept teams from specific organizations and it would be a shame to test and register with one only to find out it isn't one accepted by the facility.

The top three therapy dog organizations in the US are:
http://deltasociety.org
http://tdi-dog.org
http://therapydogs.com

Clicker Training as an Effective Dog Training Tool

• Check out the TDI website, there's a pamphlet (PDF) of requirements.
  
  http://www.tdi-dog.org/


• To train or use? Both those depend on the organizations you go through.

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Dog Health Questions: What are they best books on dog training and dog behavior?

I'd like to add some new books to my collection, mainly on training and behavior. I'm not a huge fan of cesear millan so please don't suggest only his books. Please titles and authors if you can. I want books that you've read first hand and enjoy. Books that you would recommend to a friend.

Dog Training Aids - The Leading Dog Training Methods Revealed

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For raising and training puppies I like Dr. Ian Dunbar's books Before You Get Your Puppy and After You Get Your Puppy. For the dog-human interaction I like Patricia O'Connell's The Other End of the Leash.

For a general book, It's Me or the Dog is actually pretty good and comprehensive.

Edit: Some books recommended represent training techniques based on outdated understanding of canine behavior. For example, the ideas of the Monks of New Skete were transitional between the old harsh training techniques and modern positive techniques. Be careful what you take from them. My 1978 edition of How To Be Your Dog's Best Friend, talks about how to discipline, for crimes as heinous as house soiling:

"How hard do you hit the dog? A good general rule is that if you did not get a response, a yelp or other sign, after the first hit, it wasn't hard enough. Remember, one good correction will save you fifty. You cannot hurt the dog with this method, or cause irreparable damage. Your contact must be firm." The chapter closes with the notorious, misguided "Alpha-Wolf Roll-Over."

As far as Siegal and Margolis go, I have seen "Uncle Matty" training in person. In my opinion he is a charlatan.

Search and Resuce Dog Training, Learning to Save Lives

• Positive Reinforcement method is the training of the future and aversive methods are primitive. Dominance training(pack leader nonsense) has been debunked and proven wrong by science.
  
  Click to Calm by Emma Parsons
  Don't Shoot The Dog by Karen Pryor
  Click For Joy by Melissa Alexander
  
  Karen Pryor is the person who started clicker training in dogs. Please visit her site. It's really helpful and informative.


• I really liked 'The Loved Dog' by Tamar Geller and 'The Dog Listener' by Jan Fennell. Also, Victoria Stillwell, 'It's Me or the Dog.' Also 'Calming Signals' by Turid Rugaas. Very educational on non-verbal dog communication. 'How To Be Leader of The Pack…And Have Your Dog Love You For It' by Patricia McConnell.
  
  I like what Milan says about dog psychology - it's really helpful in treating dogs like dogs - but these books I've suggested are more about communicating with the dog and persuading it to do what you want, rather than dominating the dog. They also talk about how dogs think as compared to humans. I've incorporated parts of all of their methods and have been very successful in helping rehab dogs, including puppy mill dogs. Each of mine and my parents' dogs are rescues and using their methods helped them overcome things like trauma because of being beaten on a regular basis, being chained outside, being starved.


• In all honesty? I walk into the book store every couple of weeks, stand in front of the dog section, close my eyes, and just reach out and grab a book. Unless it's a book about a specific breed, i tend to get the first two i choose, just like that.
  
  You can learn something from just about ANY book you pick up, even if it's "what not to do"! In addition, some books/trainers will have information that you can nitpick through or that you can adapt to your own style.
  
  I've read all of Millan's books, i've read Dunbar, i've read McConnell, i've read Rugaas, i've read Monks of New Skeet, i've read Aloff, i've read Koehler, and so on. They've ALL taught me one thing or another.


• My Smart Puppy by Brian Kilcommons and Sarah Wilson
  The Art of Raising a Puppy by the Monks of New Skete
  English for Dogs by Teresa Gray
  How To Raise A Puppy You Can Live With by Rutherford and Neil
  Puppy Perfect by Sarah Hodgson
  How to Raise the Perfect Dog by Cesar Milan
  Before and After Getting Your Puppy by Dr Ian Dunbar
  Puppies for Dummies by Sarah Hodgson
  The Puppy Primer by Patricia B. McConnell PhD and Brenda Scidmore
  New Knowledge of Dog Behavior by Clarence Pfaffenberger
  Good Dog, Bad Dog by Siegal & Margolis
  
  Read them all; you'll learn something from each one.


• The Monks of New Skete (The Art of Raising a Puppy is good for beginners) and Elizabeth Marshall (The Social Lives of Dogs)

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