Dog Health Questions: Dog training?

his 3 month and i don't want too much from him only like simple tricks like playing fetch he goes for the ball he bites it but he doesn't bring it back?

Buying An Electronic Dog Training Collar Doesn't Have To Be Shocking

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Roll the ball just a few inches away from you. When he bites it, say "release" while you take the ball. Say "Good BOYYYY!!!"

Treat immediately with a very special training treat reserved for this.

Repeat.

Gradually increase distance.

Speed of reward and consistency are key.

Don't train for more than a couple of minutes, just a few times a day. You don't want him to get bored.

Dog Training: It's Not Just For Adults Anymore

• practice with him..
  like throw it and then take him with you.. and then give him a treat it's step by step.


• Sorry, but before you do that, you should teach him the basics. Lik sit stay and come. 10 minutes a day is all you need, but you need to be consistent. Once you have him sitting and coming, then you can play with him. He will naturally chase and return. As he gets older, he will return better, but start with the basics. And make it fun for him. Praise him like crazy when he does what you ask.


• well you have to encourage him to bring it back like wave something about in your hand and when he comes back take it straight out of his mouth and give him lots and lots of praise and them give him it back the reason for this is that he knows if he gives it to you he will get it back and you will not steal it from him so he will willingly give it to you. You can give him the occasional treat as well, but not all of the time because that will only teach him to listen to you if you have treats and not to if you don't. Good luck with that.


• Tie a thirty foot clothesline, a long rope that's not big around, to his collar, take him out in the yard where there's nothing to get caught on, and teach him to always come when you call. Call him, then gently pull him to you if he doesn't come on his own. Then praise him. Then he'll come when he has a ball too.


• Definatly take him to puppy preschool, it's good for him to socialize with other dogs, but be sure to practice with him at home or it is a waste of money.


• 1. Remember that *you* are the boss; you are his pack leader. You don't say what breed of dog you have, but this is esp important if you have a large breed dog. He is "oh so cute" now at 3 months, but he may grow up to be huge.
  If you are the alpha/pack leader (dogs are pack animals), you eat first; you go thru the door first; you sleep in the bed & he sleeps on the floor.
  
  2. Puppy kindergarten! There is a dog-training course near you for puppies; it's well worth the $.
  
  3. Be patient. At 3 months, he has the attention span of a gnat. Do your training as you are doing it, but for very short intervals. Offer treats (small pieces of hotdog are always winners) after a success.
  
  4. Probably the most important command you can teach him is "Come!" Think of where you might be ... near a busy road? & he runs off? "Come!" is *very* important. Get yourself a long long rope or lead (they make 50-footers) & pull him toward you as you tell him to "come!" This should be a command you only say once. (not "oh, come on, puppy, come here, come here to me,....come on, let's go....")
  
  5. Praise, praise, praise him. Catch him doing something right & let him know he is a goooooooooood boyyyyyyyy! He'll pick it up.


• Keep on trying, use positive re-inforcement (every time he does something good, tell him GOOD BOY and give him a treat immediately). Most of it has to do with timing; if you see him sitting, tell him "sit" then "good boy". Eventually he will catch on. Also, the best thing you can do is enroll him in obedience courses. Some trainers start off by giving puppy kindergarten classes which are a great start, you can probably start training with the trainer at 5 months. Start with the basics before you go on to playing fetch. Teach him to "come" first, so that that way once he chases the call you can tell him to "come" and eventually he will learn how to fetch.


• As for the playing fetch, the best way is to always have an extra toy ready to throw, in your hand. When he goes to get the first one, and begins to come back to you, show him the second toy. Then throw it. He will drop the first one, to get the second. This usually works.
  When your puppy is so small, he will be "turned on" by treats. You can teach simple tricks, such as sitting, backing up, lying down , purely with the use of treats. Prepare treats that will be SMALL so as not to get him too fat. The best treats are usually hot dogs which have been "nuked" in the microwave till they are crispy. Cut them in small pieces first, then "nuke" them.
  Place a bowl of these treats on the table where you can easily reach them. Call your puppy to you. Offer him a treat. Do NOT allow him to jump on you for the treat, bump him back with your knee if he does, then give him the treat in the open palm of your hand. Do this one or two times, until he realizes you have treats in your opened up hand. Close your hand, then allow him to nuzzle at your hand, as soon as he backs off, even for a second, open your hand and give him the treat. This is teaching him that YOU control when he gets the treat.
  For teaching the sit, now he knows you have treats. You close them up into your fist (the treats) and you "lure " him into the sit, by holding your closed hand just over his nose, and putting it up over the top of his head, he will be forced to look up, which will make him sit down, especially if you move your hand over the top of his head towards his back. In no time at all, he will "sit" to get his treat. then you can pair this up with words/commands.
  It is the same for the"down", you will lure him with a treat. After he is sitting, put your closed fist, with treat inside, in front of his nose, drop your hand SLOWLY straight down between his front legs, and draw your hand out (think of the letter "L") ..he will lower his nose, and as he "follows" your hand out he will gradually lie down.
  
  These things do work best with YOUNG puppies.

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Dog Health Questions: I hate my dog, Like a love/hate situation but always hate. How can I overcome this?

I got a dog so I could go on walks, and I loved her when I first got her as a puppy. But when she grew more, she chews everything, never listens, and most of all she is ALWAYS happy and you can't discipline her. Everyone in the family loves her but me, and she doesn't care for me either. They take her to the beach and it just gets me in a bad mood along with my mom which is when it gets worse. Every day I come home to see her getting loved and everyone not caring about how she ate my books and shoes, it just gets me infuriated. I can never have a great day with her, and then my parents give me a load of "complaints" about how I treat them like trash because I don't talk to them when its the dog!
We can't get rid of her (Everyone else loves her)
I can't get along (I have tried loving her too many times)
I can't train her (She doesn't know the words "Bad dog" and everyone pets her when she does something wrong, I even paid to get a pro come and I spend $50 on dog training books)
What can I do? Because of this dog I isolate myself to keep her away.

Puppy and Dog Training - How to Train Puppies and Dogs on a Lead - Easy to Follow Dog Training Steps

Recommended Answer:
Your dog is a mirror for your jealousy and feelings of being ignored. Find the real focus of your anger and forgive yourself and others.

Overview of Dog Training

• This dog needs training to stop its unacceptable behaviour, but the whole family needs to be involved in this. Dogs only respond to good training when it's consistent, so the rest of your family giving the dog positive reinforcement when it does something wrong is going to have the opposite effect. You need to talk to your parents and ask if you can take it to an obedience class, with the whole family attending so that they all learn what they need to do. Tell them you are not happy because the dog is destructive.


• i tink you have a serious problem. talk to your parent about this problem in great detail expressing how you feel about this situation deeply. you shouldnt be treated like that for sure. If your parents dont listen what can you do? they are you parents after all. And if they do then think about giving your dog to an animal shelter of pet giveaway event or something similar to what i just listed. good luck. hope this helps!
  -helps(:

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Dog Health Questions: What are your experiences with the Koehler Method?

Hi everyone! I am doing research on different methods of dog training, and I'm interested in hearing your experiences with the Koehler Method. Did you like or dislike it? How well did it work for you? What is your overall opinion of it? Only answers from people who have tried it please. Also, please be kind and respect the opinions of others. Thanks!

Find Out About Purchasing Yourself Some Dog Training Books, They Could Really Be Quite Helpful

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I learned the Koehler method many years ago. In fact many of our methods are offshoots of the Koehler method with the exception of purely positive or clicker training. While I don't use all of the method like I once did, I still use parts of it. Used properly it is a very fair and understandable method to the dog. Make sure that if you take a class advertising the Koehler method, that the person teaching the method has a perfect understanding in its use. Many competitive obedience trainers use parts of the Koehler method as it holds up well in competition. Food and toys are added to the method to improve motivation.

Free Dog Training Tips

• Anyone that started training 20 plus years a go learned how to train using the Koehler method.
  It works, no question about it...it worked for THOUSANDS of dogs and that alone makes you wonder....
  In my opinion dogs should be bred better then they are instead of worrying about coming up with softer methods and such for dogs.
  The dogs that were around 30-50 years a go were much better dogs than what we have today.
  Have you ever thought what will happen 20 years from now if we keep breeding dogs that cannot take a method like Koehler's? Hope I helped.
  
  ADD: Curtis..please tell me what kind of dogs will we have 20 years from now if we keep on making dogs that are sht?
  I know those times will never come back Curtis, I am painfully aware of it...
  As far as Evolution...well, yes, it can be a great thing, if something is broken and needs fixing, but, we are breeding sht dogs and have to invent new methods of training them INSTEAD of raising the bar and going back to the days when dogs were REAL.
  Oh, I am also willing to bet you that "pet" dogs were also a lot better dogs back then too...


• As DaBassett said....started with it almost 30 years ago. It is without a doubt a successful method. As with all methods though...not all will work with every dog. Or, perhaps it works, but at the cost of something else. The mark of a good trainer is to be able to read the dog, and switch methods/techniques, hardness or softness, timing, etc to ensure forward progression. The "main" trainer that taught me the most, was a Koehler Clone. Although I respected his approach and success, I quickly developed methods of my own that left him baffled. Compulsion is not negotiable though...all positive doesn't work unless you live in an "Absolute" controlled environment. People will refer to Koehler as outdated or even brutal....but there's no denying it's success rate.
  
  Just a side note....if you ask someone what "Method" they use...and they actually have a "black & white" answer....they aren't a trainer...they are someone that has learned a method.


• Like others said, it's outdated.
  
  Sure it works and produces fast results. That doesn't make it right. There's some bits that are still useful today, I think with a lot of methods you have to kinda pick through and grab what you like.


• Koehler method is what I used when I first started training dogs almost 30 years ago. Although it worked for me, I've since moved on to methods that I think are better, and more pleasant for me and the dog.


• Well said Basset! My answer exactly!


• Koehler Method = Outdated. William Koehler had some very forward thinking in his day, which is why SOME of his methods are still applicable to dog training. It's SAD that the people who read his books aren't as forward in their thought process as William.
  
  You'll find most Koehler practitioners ignore BETTER results achieved with more modern methods. It's almost like a religion, of COURSE their way has to be right, and everybody else is going to Hades! Or a martial artist who's style of course is the best in the world, even if they get knocked out...it's clearly the grounds fault that their face hit it!
  
  The pet dog World...would be better off if pet stores stopped putting his books on the shelves. Koehler Method is overly aversive...but it works. It works quickly. It is probably the fastest way to have a 100% obedient dog. If you are the type of person who thinks the ends justify the means then be my guest. If you actually care enough to invest the time in doing things in a way that...well...let's call it the "right" way :) where you actually...you know...teach a dog what a command means BEFORE you hurt him or cause discomfort...uhhh then kudos to you! If you have to PHYSICALLY push a dog into a sit, or a down...then you're a bully and pretty pathetic considering a 2 year old can do it with a piece of kibble if simply shown where to hold her hand (straight up will cause the dog to sit, down low will cause the dog to lay down)...then all she has to do is say "Yes" and release the reward...hmmm...a week tops and the dog gets it...but of course he'll get it in 2 days if you say "Sit" pull up on his choke collar with one hand and shove his butt down with the other. Both work as to teaching the dog what the command means...but one actually requires that the dog becomes active in his own training instead of being the dummy who's put through the paces.
  
  That small example of teaching a dog to sit/lie down is a trend you'll see in Koehler...using more force than is required. Heck if you decide you're incapable of holding a treat over a dog's head to teach him to sit, then you could you know...simply push his butt down a bit and hold the treat right in front of his nose...he'll sit, and you won't have to choke him at all, tada. BUT then again, Koehler and most of his followers (I call them "By the Book Koehler Trainers") believe if you teach a dog behaviors with treats or toy rewards, he'll ONLY listen when you have treats or toys...their thinking is backward and silly. They somehow think by choking a dog and pushing his butt down that he'll sit because he loves and respects you, LOL! But if you train with treats then by God he'll never obey unless you break out the liver biscotti! The purpose of positive reinforcement training ie giving a dog rewards to enforce that he repeat a behavior, is simply to teach the dog what we want. Once he has learned the behavior we want from him, we then teach the dog that obeying is not optional via methods very familiar to Koehler trainers: Corrections. This is the epitome of fair. I teach the dog something in a fun way, and when he knows it 100% and refuses to do it I warn him by saying "No", if he fails to comply after the warning, he is corrected. He knows that as a direct result of HIS actions he brought discomfort onto himself!
  
  Koehler trainers apply pressure BEFORE issuing a command. So who does the dog blame for his discomfort? YOU of course. You choke the dog and push his butt down while saying "SIT"...he's looking at you like "Why are you choking and shoving on me?" and when he finally understands "Sit" = Put your butt on the ground it's too late...he's already thinking of you as the bully who pushes him around and chokes him for no reason. Another common way to train a dog Koehler style with an electric collar is to use the continuous stimulation button, command the dog to perform an exercise (let's say sit), and then release the stimulation when he completes the exercise. So the dog learns to turn off discomfort, he must comply...does this method work? Yes, every time like a charm! Is it fair? Of course not. Do you think your dog would enjoy training if training consisted of being caused discomfort for no reason, then being told to do something? That's like grounding a kid in the summer before school starts and telling them they'll be off punishment after they get good grades on their report card...I'm SURE it'd work, but I'm also quite sure that 20 years down the line when your kid's wife asks "How come you never talk about your parents?" he'll get a weird look on his face and go into "I...just don't wanna talk about it" mode...If you want modern trainers who take the time to do things correctly in training there are numerous people who give seminars, not many have written a decent book yet though, but one of my favorites, Michael Ellis is making DVD's on his methods (He is the owner/trainer of Pi, last years Mondioring 2 champion).

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Dog Health Questions: Dog training?

ok so im getting a silky terrier. Do you think i can train it to use a litter box why im in school? and if so what kind of litter box should i buy

Dog Behavior: Finding the Right Motivations for Your Dog Training Program

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Here you go..everything you need to know about litter box training your puppy! > http://www.kturby.com/litter/litter.htm

Dog Training - How to Handle Outdoor Dog Training

• crate training is the best. It should not poop or pee in the crate. You can leave it there for up to eight hours, I would say, while you are in school. I would think it would be quite difficult to litterbox train a dog.


• It is not impossible. I trained my own schnauzer, Manolo, to pee and poo on a litter box, sand included. It's a bit difficult in the beginning, because you have to be a bit rude with your dog and ever carry it to the litter box every time it shows signals of "going".
  
  If it does it outside the box, wrap it by the neck, show it the body of evidence, and then bring it [the dog, not the evidence] to the box, so it can relate pee or poo = sandbox. You should also give it some reward when it does as taught.
  
  Hope it helps.


• Everyone and every dog can be trained to do anything. But mostly, in the beginning the dog will go potty everywhere, but after a while they accommodate and do only in 1 spot. So yes, you can train it.

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Dog Health Questions: Dog training for rat terrier ?

How do I train my rat terrier now 2 yrs old that hates going outside when its cold to potty train on some place mat type in house easily????

Dog Training - A Systematic Approach

Recommended Answer:
teach it the command Potty or go potty. so that way when you say it, it knows what you want. find whatever you want to use for a pee pad inside and go outside and collect some of his previous business and bring it in and put it on the pad. the dog should make the connection. good luck. also, have you tried putting sweaters on in the cold?

Dog Training Tips That Work Best For Smart Dogs

• Ideally the training should have begun as a puppy, but better late than never...
  
  Socializing a puppy is similar to bringing home a new baby. A baby needs to be held, cuddled and loved, and so does your terrier! Hold and pet your puppy so that he knows that he is wanted and loved. Do not play with him constantly, though. Give him time to rest and sleep as well.
  
  Since he missed his early training you just have to start now and be consistent from this point forward. Set limits and make sure that your dog understands them, accepts them and sticks to them. Keep your rat terrier confined to a specific area. Use baby gates and barricades and he will quickly learn that he can enter certain areas of the house while others are forbidden territory. The best option is to get him a big crate and crate train him. The crate is a valuable tool for house-training the pup. Crate training revolves around the principle that canines do not like to soil their dens. Put him in the crate when you leave home, as he will be comfortable in his house and he will sleep until you return.
  
  Your consistency with Terrier training is the key to his understanding the house rules and the daily routine. Decide on the house rules, enforce them and make sure all family members stick to them.
  
  Your terrier must be taught to adopt proper toileting habits, if the two of you are going to happily share a clean home. Finally, teach your pet to travel in the car even if it is just to take him to the vet. Hope you put the above to work right away and eventually your dog will obey you and be pleasant as a pet.


• 1. I think you're opening Pandora's box by trying to train your rattie to pee on a place mat or pee pad or inside box. Dogs aren't so good at generalizing. To you, you're training your dog to use a peed pad. To your dog, it may be that the lesson is: peeing in the house is fine. Or using the carpet is fine. For every dog that adapts to pee pads or a place mat fine, I hear of 15 who end up with housebreaking issues.
  
  2. It's common for smaller, short-haired dogs to hate to go outside. My rat terrier initially wouldn't pee or poop outside when it snowed....because he'd learned to do it on grass. Only when I moved some snow so he could see the grass was under it did he start doing his business despite the snow.
  
  My advice:
  --get a coat for your dog and use it for when you go outside.
  --it's not fun but don't open the back door, push the dog outside and wait. Put on your park and gloves and go outside with your dog. Yeah, it's bitter in most places in the US. But if you have to, take a 5 minute walk with your dog. And keep doing it (ie: go out for 5 minutes a bit later, than 5 minutes again and so on) until you get success. And then act like you've struck gold--praise your dog, pet him/her and give treats.
  --try to do the bathroom breaks frequently, right after meals and also on a quasi schedule (so your dog gets conditioned "okay, 5 minutes after breakfast, my kidneys are letting go!").
  
  Worst case scenario: you live someplace like Eau Claire, Wisconsin where with windchill, it was -41 F. on Thursday. No short-coated dog like a rattie is going to handle that. In that case, get something like an abandoned drawer from a chest of drawers. Fill it with dirt and then plant grass. Grow the grass (sun lamps, water, fertilizer, decent temperature). And then store it in the garage and use that grass for your dog to pee and poop (and you'll have to clean up the poop of course).
  
  You'll also minimize the number and size of turds by any dog by feeding a higher quality food with a higher protein percentage.

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Dog Health Questions: Need dog training tips for the world's most stubborn dog?

I have a 7 1/2 month old puppy that is a Shar-Pei/Husky mix. He's adorable at 51 pounds, but refuses to listen. He understands sit and lay down, but only does those for treats. We were fortunate that potty training was instinctive, however he will NOT stop biting. He's not being aggressive, but wants to play. No matter how many times my husband and I tell him NO in a very stern voice, put him in time-out, hold his mouth closed, grab and hold him by scruff of the neck, NOTHING works. He could care less what we do. He continues to bite and jump up almost non-stop. He is extremely strong and hard to physically "manhandle". I'm at my wits end. Any suggestions?

How to Identify Good Dog Training Schools

Recommended Answer:
With that husky mix in him, he has lots of energy. You probably have to exercise him more using a weight backpack or in a swimming pool.

As for the biting behavior, you need to teach him what's the behavior you want. You can tell him "no" and close him mouth shut, but he doesn't understand what he is doing wrong. He's simply just playing.

When you are playing with him and he's not being mouthy, give him tons of praise, when he starts being mouthy, simply turn your back away and ignore him, When he calms down, continue the playtime.

You and your husband need to be in charge, sounds like your dog is taking over. Keep all his toys in a box and food away. When the dog behaves and it's playtime, pull out some toys. When he gets aggressive, take them away.

Feeding your dog in a routine will also put you in charge.

The dog will soon realize that your the god of toys and food, and the only way he can get the toys, is if he behaves properly.

In short:
Exercise
Praise and correcting, not disciplining the behavior and expecting the dog to behave
Keep all toys and food, until you say its dinner time and playtime

This should help! Good luck!

Information Is The Key - Same In Case Of Dog Trainings

• I'm not surprised those methods don't work. If he's looking to play inappropriately, then correct him and ignore him EVERY time he does it. You can also try redirecting him to acceptable forms of play after the correction. Try obedience training also. A well trained, obedient dog can be put in a sit stay when displaying inappropriate behavior


• Hi,
  
  Mouthing is an unavoidable part of canine development. It's how young dogs learn about their world. Fortunately, by consistently signaling to your pup that biting is unacceptable, and giving her playtime with other dogs who'll teach her the same lesson, she'll learn to use her jaws very gently. Here are more training tips:
  
  http://lnk.nu/dogtime.com/s0f.html
  
  For jumping problem, check out these tips:
  
  http://lnk.nu/dogtime.com/wb1.html


• Do not yell no at your dog do not grab your dog it scares them and they do not understand why you did it instead yelp in a high pitched voice "ouch" cross your arms as soon as it happens completely ignore the dog turn your back on him. Do this every time if he tries to get your attention ignore him stand up and keep your arms crossed and do not talk to him let him walk away. Make sure when you yelp that it is high pitched and sounds like a hurt puppy. It is possible that the pup was removed from the parents and siblings to early between 6 and 9 weeks the pups start to learn these lessons.


• My reccomendations are:
  
  Huskeys= ALOT of ENERGY lol so long walks are needed or a tred mill. You can also get a doggy back pack for your walks and fill them with water bottles so the weight can wear him out alittle.
  Huskeys also can be a very mouthy breed so that's not unusual that he is using his mouth to play with you.
  Shar Pei= Fighting breed-These dogs have very strong and thick necks for fighting. So a routine collar is not going to do you justice as you walk them. I would suggest a prong collar to be used for walks and be sure the collar is towards to top of the neck. So when your on a walk you give a tug right the the moment of him pulling. Be sure during the walk he is walking next to or behind you. The collar may look like some german torture device but in fact it does not hurt them as long as it is used properly it simulates the bite of an alpha dog.
  
  1. I would recommend a puppy/dog class for you guys. To teach to the basic on how to dicipline your dog.
  
  2. Have a daily routine: get up take the dog on a walk,feed him,ect.
  
  3.Be consistant with commands. The prong collar can also be used at home with a very short leash so when this big guy is jumping all over the hubby you can correct him. It is better to correct him before he gets way to excited. Also have your husband ignore him until he calms down eye contact, talking to him anything that focuses on him will cause excitement and unwanted behavior.
  
  4. Before letting people in your house: Make him sit and stay and have your guests ignore him completely until he is calm. Once he is calm you may praise him in a calm voice.
  
  Good luck.

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Dog Health Questions: Looking for dog training that works! Any suggestions?

My two dogs are a bit unruly, but I don't have the money to spend on expensive training.

I've seen so many infomercials. The latest was this miracle dog collar that works within minutes by the Dogfather. Sounds like BS! Has anyone purchased it and does it work?

Dog Training Basics

Recommended Answer:
If you have a problem with your dog pulling I would defiantly try a Gun dog lead, if you have a big dog- this slips over your dogs neck then a figure of 8 over its nose.
Otherwise i would by a halti head collar or gentle leader, which may be better if you have a small dog. Both are quite reasonable in prices.
These work better as the dog can only pull you from a tiny part of their body, DO NOT by a chest harness as they have all that body behind them to pull you!

I would suggest that you take both your dogs to basic obedience classes just to gain some control!!

Dog Breed in Relation to Dog Training

• It IS BS.
  
  Obedience classes are pretty reasonable. Certainly better value than wasting your money buying gimmicks.


• The only truly effective training method is patience and consistency.Add:
  If you do a simple Google search or a search within Y!A, you'll find thousands of ways to train your dogs. Just type in what behavior you want them to learn then vio'ola.


• it is CRAP but you have the INTERNET use it google all the good trainers. I myself prefer Victoria Stilwell. Check her out she is good and her training tips are good.


• Yeah, had to use it with my dog, the plastic pinch collar? right? It would have worked for us if my husband was willing to participate but he thinks its okay to let the dog do what he wants (the reason why we had to get the collar in the first place).
  Anyways, I would go to petco or petsmart or such store to get ideas from their trainers first - they will talk to you for free. Then I would try using a choke chain - properly- before moving to the pinch collar.
  But a lot of us could help you out right here if you let us know what troubles you are having. Every dog is different so every method will affect each dog differently, although the type of breed helps with giving you an idea of its character and how it will respond.
  The Dogfather actually uses a choke chain in his video - doesn't even use the pinch collar that he advertises because he made the video first.


• that sounds like bs that is like putting a collar on your kid and saying don't get in the candy know be a good girl. How i got my dog to listen was give treats when a good girl and a hand when not.


• Google NILIF, it worked magnificently on my stubborn Maltese. As with any training it takes time and patience.

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Dog Health Questions: Who uses watersprayers for dog training?

I use ham for rewards and watersprayers as a last restort for desipline!

Dog Training Tips

Recommended Answer:
I haven't had the need. I don't suppose there's any harm in it for those that do, and it's certainly more humane than those idiots that use lemon juice.

I guess I've just been really lucky. No major behavioral issues. Both of my chihuahuas are potty trained, my husband's dachsund is going through crate training again, I didn't raise her though. None of them chew up anything, or bite people unprovoked, lol. They don't bark for the heck of it, or cause any other sort of disturbances. And somehow I've accomplished all this with out that pack leader, alpha roll, dominance crap.

Edit: as for what I do do, scold when necessary, lavish praise when deserved. Occassional treats here and there. I have been known to get a fly swat on occassion, but I don't use it on them, swatting the floor has the desired effect.

Dog Training Evolution

• If you can't encourage proper behavior and end up using a water punishment or attention getter, timing is important. You can make your dog afraid of the water bottle or squirt gun, or you can help him learn that the behavior he is doing is always going to get water in his mouth.
  Use a small squirt gun, and hide it, then squirt the water just as the dog is doing a bad behavior. Ideally, what you want to do is make the dog think:
  Gee, every time I open my mouth to bark I get a mouthful of water (which I don't like)....I'll try it a few more times,,,,then I've learned not to bark, to avoid the water in my mouth.
  If the dog figures out it comes from the squirt bottle, that is what he will avoid, not the bad behavior.


• Lord no. I use toys and positive reinforcement, and my dogs are huge. The biggest being 230lbs. You can get what you want out of a dog without spraying water in their face. It just takes patience, and consistent training. Just because your dog is trained, doesn't mean you stop training. You have to practice everyday, or every other day, to see the best results.


• I will get creamed for this , but i have used water bottle for barking..I would spray at my dog and say shhh..Now all i have to do is say shh ..
  
  Never in the face..And no lemon juice..
  
  And ham is not good for dogs ..


• I use a squirt bottle with water for barking -- this is especially helpful with the Dachshunds, although I have a couple of obnoxious Siberian boys who will flatten their ears and turn away from me if they see the squirt bottle come out.


• I use putting the dogs outside, to light pops with a newspaper, to muzzle grabbing and growling at the dog, and a loud sharp NO. Depending on the offending behavior of the dog.


• I use neither. I use healthy dog treats.


• i used to when my dog did a specific thing wrong. don't use it for every bad thing the dog does because that will confuse him. but using it is okay i think since it doesn't hurt them or anything


• I have used water sprayers with great success for a myriad of behavior issues. It works great for barking, defining boundaries, and some aggressive behaviors.
  Just so everyone knows, it is NOT supposed to be squirted in the face, so if you are doing that, no wonder your dogs are non-responsive! Squirting is a diversion tactic, so you should be squirting in the butt or near that area, just to break their concentration and get their attention.


• waterspays or waterguns just make my puppy mad! he will go crazy if sprayed with one.
  for diciplining biting i use very mild chilly and put some on the end of his tongue. (trust me it does the trick!)
  for daily diciplining i tie him up each time he does something bad. he gets the hang of it and be's good in the end

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Dog Health Questions: What is the best dog training book to read for an apbt puppy?

i recently ordered pit bulls for dummies, and will soon acquire a copy of dog training for dummies.

the lady that lives downstairs from me gave me a book titled 'Smarter than you Think' and it tells you to throw things at your dog to teach it to come, and to stick a match in its butt to poop, and not trust dog food companies, and all this weird stuff, not too sure about that book.

any other suggestions? or tips?

Dog Training Courses - Which One is Right For You?

Recommended Answer:
When I had just got my APBT I went to my local library's site and in the keyword box i put Pit Bull and it came up with alot of good books that were really useful so try looking up your library. They have alot of info on APBTs. Good luck

Dog Training Tips - Basic Dog Training Courses

• I'd just go with the book you're getting; the DUmmy series has always helped me.
  
  Jeez, Smarter than you Think is full of lies!


• A realy good website that i use are great books and are a great help.
  http://www.pitbulltraininghandbook.com/
  
  http://www.pitbulllovers.com/health/


• I used "Off to a Good Start: A Manual for Raising Your New Puppy" by Mary Thompson and "I just got a puppy! What do I do?" by Mordecai Siegal and Matthew Margolis.
  You may want to check into a puppy class (good for socializing and teaching some basic commands). Check here to see if there is an instructor close to you. http://www.nadoi.org

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