7 Secrets To Understanding Your Dog's Behavior For Better Puppy and Dog Training

Whether you are considering a new puppy, or are a new dog owner, training is a responsibility you need to take time to consider. If you have already owned a dog, especially one with behavior issues, then you know the importance of this topic.

Knowing the following 7 secrets to understanding your dogs behavior will not only make the training process better, but offer great rewards & enjoyment for years to come for both you and your new best friend that wants nothing more than to please you.

1) Lets begin with where dog's came from: Their origins actually descended from wolves. Even though they have been domesticated for a number of years, they still hold on to some basic instincts. Namely, they are pack animals & are used to a social structure therefore they need an "alpha" to lead their routine & ensure survival. As a result, they are naturally social & thrive on interaction.

2) Dogs see you as a different kind of dog. Knowing this is essential so that from the beginning of your relationship you establish yourself as the "alpha" & lead the pack & ensures survival. Failure to do so will lead to instinctual behavior issues such as challenging the "alpha" role. It is not his fault- it is nature. You must be the one to establish this role by providing food, shelter, interaction, & correcting bad behavior. Doing so helps understand each other's roles & place in the world.

3) Dogs need a routine. Just like humans, when they know what to do and when to do it they are less stressed, relaxed and comfortable. Training should be a routine. Decide when and stick with it. Doing so makes the training process more enjoyable for you both as you will be expecting it & looking forward to your time together.

4) Dogs have short term retention memories, but great associated memory. Meaning, they don't remember things from a few moments ago, but when you associate something repetitiously they will remember it for years. Such as saying "sit" when your dog sits, reward him with a treat. he will then associate the command "sit" with sitting.

5) Dogs speak another language. This may seem obvious but it is important to understand this when choosing command words. Just like if you were being told something by someone speaking another language, it is essential to associate a word with an action & be consistent or how will you learn that language?

Avoid words that are too common such as "no" & "go" as they may be confused not to mention used too frequently in a conversation to use as an appropriate command. The tone you use is also important as they are learning to read your body language as well.

6) Dogs don't have good eyes, but do have good ears & great noses! Knowing this can help you understand certain behaviors such as jumping at shadows or perhaps digging. It is wise to use these senses to your advantage whenever possible.

7) We have all heard of "the sixth sense". This is another unique gift they have that we lack. It is the ability to know something is wrong when we can not see it. They may inform us with a unique bark which is their voice to communicate. Punishing him for this type of communication is a typical misunderstanding. While uncontrollable barking is not accepted behavior and should be corrected. it is important to understand their different barks as another form of communication & should be rewarded for doing so.

Training your dog can develop a great bond and understanding of each other. Puppies just like babies don't know how the world works yet and need to be taught right from wrong. When they are healthy & happy they are full of energy to explore the world around them. Be patient and flexible & plan to spend time with a routine and you will be rewarded with unconditional love for hopefully the next 15 years.

I truly hope this article was helpful in understanding your dog's behavior. To learn more great puppy and dog training tips and information you can do at home please visit:
The Dog Training Academy at my website http://www.leopardland.info, and thank you for being a responsible owner.

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How to Raise a Well Behaved Dog

Transform your adorable puppy into a well behaved dog by applying some dog training basics. Simple techniques are the secret to ensure your whole family enjoys their new puppy. Remember, dogs are like children, and need to know your rules. You need to train them - this is your duty as owner (or pack-leader!). Falling in love with an adorable, scruffy face is easy. Disillusion and frustration sets in just as quickly when your cute little dog chews your furniture and leaves 'gifts' on the floor. You will need plenty of patience, and make time to raise your new family-member into a well behaved dog. These tips on dog training basics will help you develop a lasting and enjoyable relationship with your new puppy.

Step one "Establish the rules"

Begin sooner rather than later, to increase your success. Do not let your 10-pound puppy up on to your bed - unless you enjoy a 70-pound dog lying on top of you at night. Never, not once. Teach your puppy not to jump on guests and stay off the furniture from the outset. Ensure that everyone in the family agrees to enforce the rules.

Step two "Consistently enforce the rules"

This is one of the second dog training basics that are easy to let lapse. Be disciplined yourself. Maintain the rules, reprimand your puppy every time it breaks a house rule. Using a sharp "No!" is often all that is required. This is true of every aspect of training, such as house breaking, jumping on guests, and chewing shoes. Enforce the rules and your dog learn the quickly, just like a child. Consistency takes time and patience. Consistent dog training at the beginning will save time, effort, and plenty of heartache, and will pay off in the long run.

Step three "Reward good behavior"

Reward your dog every time a rule is followed appropriately. Effective dog training is the result of positive reinforcement rather than punishment to produce desired results. Rewards could include an edible treat to start with. Move to praise and positive attention once your puppy understands the dog training process. Provided on a consistent basis, positive reinforcement will help your puppy learn the benefit of listening and obeying.

Dog training basics is easy to learn

You only need time, patience and consistency mixed with positive rewards to produce the desired results. Follow the steps of Rules, Consistency, Reward. It will be worth the effort when you end up with a dog that everyone enjoys.

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3 Basic Principles of a Good Dog Training! Learn How to Raise a Friendly and Obedient Pet!

The main purpose of a good dog training is to build a strong relationship with your pet and raise a friendly and obedient canine. It cannot be done with the use of negative reinforcement techniques so avoid screaming or hitting your dog because it will only make him more stressed and confused. In this article I will outline 3 most crucial elements of good dog training that will bring the best results if combined.

Good Dog Training Part 1 - Understanding The Way Your Dog Thinks

Dogs are naturally pack animals and they will look for a pack leader as soon as they join your family. If you can't play this role you pet will instinctively take over it in order to provide the rest of the family members with the sense of security (this is how your dog thinks). You cannot let this happen because canines who perceive themselves as alpha males can become uncontrollable and aggressive. In order to climb to the top of the hierarchy be firm and consistent while training your dog, feed him after you had you last meal and once in a while, without any reason, show him who is the boss (e.g. pull him off the couch).

Good Dog Training Part 2 - How To Train My Dog

Good dog training is based around repeating the same thing over and over again and that is why it requires a lot of patience and consistency on your side. Make sure that all family members use the same training methods and commands in order to boost your pet's learning experience. Also, keep the training sessions short (5 - 10 minutes) because dogs have a very short attention spam and get bored pretty quickly. Always end on a positive note so that your pet identifies training with positive feelings and is willing to continue it in the future.

Good Dog Training Part 3 - Punishment Leads Nowhere

It has already been proven countless times that using violence while training a dog is less effective than utilizing positive reinforcement techniques. Every time you scream or hit your dog you are making him more confused as to what you expect him to do and often reinforce the bad associations he has. You don't want your pet to be scared of you because relationship based on fear often ends up in a very drastic way (your four-legged friend may become aggressive and attack you).

Dogs will do everything to get our attention so the biggest punishment they can get is ignorance. Use it whenever your pet is trying to bite you or whines excessively. He will quickly understand that indulging in bad behaviors ends up with a loss of playmate and end of fun.

Now, all of us want to raise a friendly and obedient dog who will be a pleasure to live with. No excessive barking or biting, jumping on people or urinating on the couch. There is a great guide dedicated entirely to this subject and you can access it instantly at www.IWantToTrainMyDog.info This is the exact method I used to train my dog to be the pet I wanted him to be.

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5 Key Dog Behaviour Factors That Affect Training

Whether you already have experience of dog ownership, are a new dog owner or are about to be a dog owner, then training your dog is one of the most important aspects you need to consider. Likewise if you currently have a dog with behaviour problems, then dog training is essential.

However, knowing you need to train your dog and actually training your dog are two entirely different things. Just where do you start?

To successfully train your dog, you need to consider and understand some key facets of dog behaviour. Knowing and understanding these 5 facets will greatly improve your dog training.

1. The origins of dogs. Dogs are in essence descended from modern day wolves. While domestication has dampened or eliminated many traits, some key natural instincts still remain. Like wolves, dogs are pack animals. What does this mean?

Well, there are several traits that derive from being a pack animal. The important ones when it comes to training are dogs are naturally sociable, they are used to routine and they are used to a social structure (i.e. the famed alpha male).

As sociable animals dogs thrive on the interaction with other dogs. A dog does not consider you as a human but rather a funny looking dog. Therefore, dogs thrive on the interaction with you. Just like a wild wolf, rejected by the pack, if you starve a dog of this interaction, they will become unhappy and very agitated.

When it comes to training, you can use this to reward or punish your dog. Interacting with your dog (e.g. patting, encouraging/excited talk, etc) can be as much of a reward as treats of food. Similarly, ignoring your dog (e.g. turning your back, stern talk, putting them in another room, etc) can be a harsh punishment for a dog. Its definitely better than smacking them.

As with all animals (including humans), dogs thrive on routine. If they know what and when they are likely to be doing certain things, then they are relaxed and comfortable. They know what to expect and are not confused by ever changing circumstances.

Training should also stick to a routine. Decide when the best time of the day is best for you to train your dog and stick by that time as rigidly as possible. Your dog will soon get into a routine of expecting to be trained at say 3pm every day and will be prepared for when training time comes. If your dog is ready and expecting to be trained, then it goes without saying that they will actually train better.

Within a pack there is always the alpha male. The dog that leads the pack, protects the pack and ultimately ensures the pack is fed and survives. As mentioned, a dog sees you as a funny looking dog and not a human. To be a good dog owner you absolutely need to be the alpha male. How many nature programs have you seen where the alpha male is being challenged by one of the other would be alpha males? Likewise, your dog will be challenging you to be the alpha male - this is a natural instinct for them.

You must establish yourself as the alpha male from the beginning. Providing food, interaction, punishing bad behaviour, body and vocal language all go towards asserting yourself as the alpha male. If your dog does not consider you as the alpha male, then they will not listen or act on your training instructions.

2. A dog's memory. We all know that goldfish have short memories. However, you may be surprised to know that dogs also have short retention memories. If you could tell your dog something, it is likely that by the next day or a few hours later, they will have forgotten. On the other had (or paw) dogs do have incredibly good associated memory. This basically means that if your dog can associated something with what you tell it then it will likely remember what you told it for years to come.

For example if you told your dog (assuming you could speak doggy language) that the chocolate biscuits were in the cupboard your dog would probably forget this within a few hours. However, if you showed your dog where the chocolate biscuits were, repeating the words 'chocolate biscuits', every time you said 'chocolate biscuits' it would probably go straight to the cupboard. It may also search the cupboard every few hours for the rest of its life looking for the chocolate biscuits but that's not the point.

Therefore, when training your dog you need to associate the training topic with something. For example: if you are teaching your dog to sit. If you associate the word 'sit' by getting your dog to physically sit and then giving them a reward. Repeat this a few times and soon your dog will associate your command 'sit' with it physically sitting and then getting a reward. The difficult bit is disassociating the reward - ask yourself why almost every dog will naturally sit when you have food in your hand?

3. Doggy language. Despite comments above, we cannot speak doggy language and dogs cannot speak our language. This is important when it comes to training. You have to choose words for commands that both you and your dog will remember. Be careful not to choose very common words or else your dog will be easily confused when this word keeps appearing within the middle of a sentence. A common word often used in training dogs is 'come'. For this example, it may be better to use a slang version or combine 'come here' into a single short word.

The important thing is that when you decide on a word for a command to stick with it and be consistent, otherwise your dog will become confused.

I know it can be difficult, especially if you come home to your new TV pulled off the cabinet, to always use pre-selected words when talking to your dog. Your dog does not speak human language and will only know what those few words you have trained it with are (and the tone you have used). So if you start using other words or different tones your dog will not understand.

For example: imagine someone speaking to you in a foreign language asking for directions to the city hall. You can't understand a word they are saying yet they get more and more frustrated, talking in a louder and quicker language. Is it your fault you can't understand them? Why are they getting angrier when you have no idea what they are saying? What is their problem? What will I do? Similarly, if you haven't trained your dog to understand what 'sit' is and you start shouting 'sit', 'down on back legs', 'down', etc is it your dog's fault it is looking at you confused and increasingly scared.

4. Puppy behaviour. Just like babies, puppies do not know how the world works or how they are supposed to behave within that world. They need to be taught and learn what is good, bad, right or wrong.

A healthy and happy puppy will be a bundle of energy, desperate to explore as much as they can as quickly as they can. Dogs do not have good eyes that can see things or hands that can feel the intricacies of objects. Instead they have noses that can smell things and mouths that can chew objects.

While this can come through training and general maturing, the importance of this is that you must be patient and understand where your dog is coming from and why it does what it does.

5. Structure and enjoyment. While I have in a round about way touched on these two above, no dog training information would be complete without mentioning these two aspects on their own.

However you decide to train your dog, as with routine, you must have a structure to your training. If you have never trained a dog before, how do you know when your dog can start learning to sit, stay, etc and when it can run down to the local shop and pick the paper up for you? 

You need to know what it is you actually want to train your dog to ultimately be able to do and what steps you need to take to get to that point. Personnel dog trainers, dog training classes and dog training guides can all do this. Personally, I prefer to train my own dogs and believe that in the end you develop a much stronger bond with your dog. Also, your dog is more obedient to you rather than the trainer. However, at the very least, and particularly if you have never trained a dog before, I would recommend purchasing a dog training guide.

The small amount of money for a dog training guide, compared to the time you would waste searching for free online tips that will be a mix match of training and will not provide the structure, is just not worth it. More than that, the time saved in training and the end result of a properly trained dog for the rest of its life (around 15 years) is worth many times more than the cost of even the most basic training guide.

If you, and more importantly your dog, do not enjoy training then you will never properly train your dog. Training will take longer and be much harder. When you start training your dog remember they are most likely to be a puppy and at that age all they want to do is run and explore their new world. Be flexible with the time you plan to spend training. Try and keep training short but if your dog appears to be really enjoying it then be prepared to train for longer. Likewise if your dog will just not focus, then maybe leave it for a bit before going back to it. With a routine and structure to your training, your dog will soon learn that when it comes to training they need to focus for a short length of time and will be better able to do so.

I hope the above has been helpful in your desire to train your dog. By knowing why and how your dog does what it does, you should be able to understand it's behaviour much better. By using this understanding you can better bond with your dog and train your dog. A good training routine and structure as well as plenty of patience and eventually you will have a well trained dog. Always always always make sure training is enjoyable for both you and especially your dog.

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Dog Behaviour Problems - The Cause and Natural Solution

Dog behaviour problems are for the most part, created by humans. The normal treatment tends to be inappropriate and totally confuses the dog. This is common in so called specialist dog trainers and veterinarians alike.

Dog training methods usually completely lack understanding about where the dog is coming from. They are often harsh, frightening or even downright cruel. The veterinary treatment is little better, with the invention of dog antidepressant drugs to add to the myriad of toxic medication that suppresses rather than heals.

Without understanding the dog and why he is behaving the way he is, you have no chance of rectifying the situation. In fact, it is likely to worsen.

To give you an example, my neighbour brought home a new puppy some months ago. He has grown into a large dog. He is the only dog. They are out at work all day. I suspect he is meant to be a guard dog.

This dog is very lonely. He is intelligent and has discovered how to escape. He doesn't go far. As far as my place. To visit my dogs. To start with, he was content to connect through the fence. But he's young and active. So he quickly learned how to jump the fence.

He and my dogs thoroughly enjoyed their time racing around at full speed, taking it in turns to chase each other.

When his people discovered this, they shouted at him. They chastised him as he was coming to them, as he was returning home. This sets up another problem in his mind - don't go to them when called as they are likely to be angry.

I suggested to them that he is lonely, that as they are out at work all day, they should have another dog. Dogs are pack animals and don't fare well on their own. They didn't like this idea. Instead they have restrained him, so he can no longer escape.

Dog behaviour problems develop because of such basic misunderstandings. Now he is restrained, when he needs to race around, learn about life, stretch his legs, happily engage with others. He is lonely, when he needs a pack, of at least one other dog, a human or other animal equal to him.

Psychologically, he is likely to go slowly crazy if he is so disposed. Or perhaps depressed, if that is in his nature. Perhaps he will become frustrated. Or angry. This may lead to aggression.

And all because people only look at animals through their own limited perceptions. Dogs are not people. Dogs are dogs and need their basic canine needs met.

The vast majority of dog behaviour problems stem from this human misunderstanding of a dog's very basic needs.

Of course they need good food. Of course they need shelter. Of course they need exercise. Of course they need your love. But they also need you to understand where they come from. They desperately need the interaction of other pack animals - other dogs, you or another animal who can interact with them.

Without this, you can expect your dog to develop serious psychological problems. These dogs are then invariably killed, as they are deemed unsafe to keep within human society. Yet it was the humans who created the problem.

To find out more about dog behaviour problems and how to cure them, click on the link below.

Single Deadliest Mistake

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Aggressive Dog Behaviour - How to Train Your Dog Right

For any dog owner aggressive dog behaviour is an important subject. We all want a well behaved dog and not a menace to family, friends and furniture. Issues like aggressive dog behaviour, obedience, house breaking and the likes need to be addressed in your pet's live or will turn your life with your dog difficult, to put it nicely.

Aggressive dog behaviour and canine behaviour problems in general can make you as the owner feel like your dog has it in for you. You can come to the point where you believe your pet is disrespecting you on purpose. Behavioral problems can range from disobedience, destructiveness, potty training problems, the dog ignoring you to a display of dangerous aggressive dog behaviour. It may absolutely not seem like it right now, but the fact is: your dog does want to make you happy.

Oftentimes we as owners fail to understand the root causes for aggressive dog behaviour, destructiveness and overall disobedience. We need to learn to communicate with our dog in a way it'll be able to understand. Analyzing the cause of the behavioral problem is often easier than we might think.

Destructiveness usually has boredom at its root. Ignoring you or disobedience is often the sign of an independent or dominant dog that hasn't accepted your claim to the alpha dog position yet. Aggressive dog behaviour can stem from dominance, fear, pain, sickness or former mistreatment for example.

Though training your dog may seem to be a tedious task, there are a lot of resources at your disposition out there. If the issue is barking, potty training, digging or aggression, programs, schools and courses exist to help you through the process, every step of the way. You owe it to your dog and yourself to take its training seriously and to invest the necessary time, effort and patience into training your dog to be well behaved.

At the beginning this seems like an overwhelming task, but child rearing does even more so and we do it with love and care. Dog training becomes manageable if you break it down to one issue at a time. Actually the training time with your dog can become quite enjoyable for the both of you.

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Aggressive Dog Behaviour And How To Stop It

If you are a dog owner, it is pertinent to know if your dog has an aggressive dog behaviour and how to stop it. More often than not, it's difficult to determine the root of the aggression. In most cases, it begins during the puppy stage when some bad habits are tolerated. The puppy keeps doing a lot of things to get what he wants. Snapping, nipping, and barking can start really small but can also become dangerous signs of aggression if uncontrolled. The wrong kind of attention given to these habits only reinforces it further. Consequently, an aggressive dog is developed and nurtured.

It is very hard to curb aggression at a later stage yet there is still chance for the dog to overcome it with some help. One of the most common signs of aggression is in the form of any negative behavior of the dog surrounding his own food. It is totally unacceptable for a dog to growl or snarl at anyone who comes near his food. It is also a sign of aggression when the dog shows hostility towards strangers or other dogs. It is when you see these signs that you should take effort to control your dog's behavior. Now that you are aware of the signs of aggression, you are ready to stop it. Here are just a few of the things you need to know about aggressive dog behaviour and how to stop it:

1. Allot a specific space for your dog.

Paramount to this endeavor is to have a specific place for you and your dog. Set up a particular area where both of you can interact privately. Distractions from other people are strictly discouraged so that your dog can focus on what you are trying to reinforce.

2. Find the best ways to discipline him.

Try your best to recreate the scenario when he would show his aggressiveness. For example, if he usually growls when he senses some threat near his food, use this situation for disciplining him. Place a bowl of his favorite food near him. Allow him to eat and once he starts feeding, cautiously position yourself, with your body turned, such that you are in between your dog and his food bowl.

3. Give your dog a stern "No".

If he attempts to growl, just say a stern, 'NO' and touch him by the neck. Your dog must be sitting at this point. Should he attempt to rise, quickly make him sit or lie again. Continue doing this form of control until he no longer shows any signs of aggressions. A reward or a treat should be given to your dog the moment he shows submission to you to make him learn that this is the kind of behavior you want from him. Keep in mind that a dog owner can have a happy and healthy relationship with his pet if he learns how to spot an aggressive dog behaviour and how to stop it. It is worth all the effort that you put into making your pet dog a very lovable one.

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Dealing With Dog Behaviour Problems

     Dogs can be fun and they can be very cute, but there are times though when they can also misbehave and all that you can do is to deal with dog behavior problems in the best way that you can. Different dogs have different behavioral patterns, and as such you should be knowledgeable enough on how to deal with the ones that you have based on their breed and pedigree. You just have to remember that even the most serious behavioral problems can be dealt with and can be managed with some training.

Dogs might misbehave due to various reasons, some of which you might not be able to fathom. The most serious of dog behaviour problems would be dog aggression towards people and other dogs. This kind of behavior may be due to a history of abuse. It is possible that due to the abuse that the dog has been put through it would react in fear aggressively, thus the snarling, howling, growling, and even biting. It can also be due to some health problems. If dog aggression becomes long term and escalates in its intensity, then it would be better if you consult the professionals about it.

Biting is another problem that should be dealt with when they are still very young. Puppies tend to nip and bite. These behaviors have to be curbed as early as possible. Anxiety can cause several dog behaviour problems like digging, chewing, inappropriate elimination, fear of separation from the owner and even aggression. Thus, it is vital that the anxiety concerns be addressed in order to curtail the aggressive or excessive behavior of the dog. In some cases, chewing, excessive barking, and movements like jumping are just products of unleashed energy. A walk in a park or some playtime might be good for the dog but you have to make sure that you will take the lead during the walk. This is still part of the pack dominance that you have to establish in order for the dogs to follow your commands.

There are many ways to manage difficulties met with dogs. Most dogs misbehave when they are bored or when they have excess energy so let them have some time to run it off. A walk in the park will also be good because you do not only answer the need to provide them with leisure but you also teach them to socialize since they get to meet other dogs as well as people outside your family circle. In case of difficulty in solving dog behavior problems you can always seek the help of a professional trainer.

Phil Garfield has a free Dog Obedience Training course! He also teaches others how to stop puppy biting

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