Your dog should learn this command, This command will be helpful in insuring the safety of your pet while out in public and will make you look like the owner of a well-mannered and lovable pet. To add to the beauty of all this, the command itself is quite simple and almost any dog can learn the meaning of the command with 30 minutes or so of effort.

So what is the function of the “heel” command? This one word command tells your dog that the animal is to walk directly at your side, not before or after you. This provides safety for your pet in public places as well as for yourself. The command keeps your pet at your side rather than running through the picnic blankets of park goers and, if you own a larger more menacing breed, makes you seem a less approachable target to would-be criminal elements.


There are two general methods of training. One uses only positive reinforcement and the other uses a mixture of both positive and negative tactics. First we will discuss the positive reinforcement method.

In this method, you must first place your dog on a short leash and procure several of the dogs favorite food treats, a few pieces of dry kibble from the animals dog food is normally suitable. Decide which side you prefer your dog to walk on and train from this side in the following manner. With the dog by your side, facing in the same direction, place a treat in your hand next to your hip. In a firm, yet gentle voice, say “heel” and walk forward. When the dog responds by stepping with you, praise them and reward them with the treat. Remember to be consistent and not to reward before the action is carried out, yet always reward for a good performance. With a lot of patience, this method will work well for most dogs and results in a close bonding of the pet to the owner. However, some dogs are just naturally harder to train, just like some people. If you are blessed with one of these independent and strong willed pets then you might have to avail yourself of a different method of training, which was mentioned earlier in this discussion.

To use the second training method, you must start with a slightly longer leash of approximately seven to ten feet. Allow your pet a few moments to explore the boundaries of the leash and understand how it works. Then call the animal to your side and position yourself as before with the animal next to you, facing the same direction. In a firm voice, say “heel” and walk forward. At this time, the dog will probably not walk with you. It will, instead, begin to explore most likely running in a different direction than where you are leading. To correct this behavior, turn in the opposite direction of the pets’ direction of travel and take a few steps forward, quite briskly, as you raise the leash to shoulder height and let it play out behind you. The result of this action will be seen as the animal quickly reaches the end of the leash and their forward momentum teaches them the age old physics lesson that “Every action has an equal and opposite reaction.” The animal will quite quickly learn that to disobey the heel command results in a discomforting feeling from the sudden stop at the end of the leash and, after a short while, will learn to obey the command. When the pet reaches the state of obedience, be sure to reward them with lots of positive reinforcements, such as play time and treats, along with rich verbal praise.

Whichever of these methods you choose in the training of your pet, the “heel” command is sure to go a long way in making you a much happier pet owner who will be proud to show your pet anywhere. Remember to train with love, patience and consistency and your pet will reward you with loyalty and many, many years of companionship.

The dog usually has its own ideas of its territory and home and is generally not a generous creature when it come to sharing but would much rather chase the intruders away. We have to reprogram the dogs thinking to make it understand that chasing the cat or iguana or whatever other pet you may have, is not acceptable. So how about some instruction on just how it’s done?

For the First tip, Insure the Safety of Both Animals and Yourself. To start, make certain that the new animal will be safe. Place the new pet in a pet carrier or some other sturdy structure that prohibits the dog from actually physically contacting the animal but still allows for both animals to see, smell and hear each other. This provides a way for both animals to acclimate to each other in a safe, though possibly a bit stressful, situation. In later steps, gloves might be advisable to avoid scratches from a nervous pet.

Secondly, Rewards Work Wonders. After the animals have both calmed a bit give them each a small reward, such as a morsel of some favorite food. Be sure to give the dog lots of verbal praise and affection when it is not barking or trying to get to the new animal as this will show the dog that you are accepting of the new pet’s presence and you expect him to be also. Repeat this process several times over the course of a week or so, until both animals seem fairly accustomed to the presence of the other and their aggressions seem to have subsided. At this point, you are ready to move on to the next step and tip number three.

The third tip to socializing your animal is Get Help. This step will require an assistant to help with one of the animals. Have the assistant leash the dog and hold him firmly on a very short leash. After instructing the assistant to maintain control of the dog, open the pet carrier and bring the new pet out carefully. Your dog will likely move towards the animal so be sure the assistant has the dog held tightly and be careful not to let the new pet panic and escape your grasp. Gradually bring them closer together and let them calmly adapt to each others presence. Repeat this step several times over the next few days and by the end of the week, these two animals should be like old chums.

Another tip to remember in socializing your pets is that, while the animals most likely won’t make an instant attachment to each other, there are those special picture perfect moments that you will want to cherish a lifetime. So keep the camera handy and loaded with film. The candid shots of training at its best provide memories that will last forever. Few things are more fun than looking at a picture of your dog with an iguana riding around the room perched on his back and telling a little white lie that you taught the two of them to do that.

Our Fifth and final point is remember that just like humans, not everyone is going to get along. There will be days where the dog and the cat are going to feud or the iguana will get cantankerous and slap the dog with his tail for the fun of it. Some animals were just never meant to live in harmony but with a lot of patience and a little direction you can make your household fairly peaceable most of the time. When things go sour, just take it in stride and put the animals in their separate areas for a bit and, given a cooling period, they will be friends again in no time.

With these simple tips you can be certain that life around your home will be much more harmonious and you might just have a bit more respect for Noah and his Ark.

Whether you train your own dog, or you have someone else help you, there are certain basic commands that must be mastered for a dog to be considered truly trained. These basic commands include:

Heel -- It is important that any dog learn to walk beside its owner on a loose lead, neither pulling ahead nor lagging behind

No -- The word No is one word that all dogs must learn. Training your dog to respond to this important word can save you a ton of trouble.

Sit -- Training your dog to sit on command is a vital part of any dog training program.
Stay -- A well trained dog should remain where his or her owner commands, so stay is a very important command in dog training.

Down -- Lying down on command is more than just a cute trick; it is a key component of any successful dog training program.

Off -- Forms the basis for later training, especially when training the dog not to chase people, cars, bikes, cats, etc.

Dog training does much more than just create an obedient, willing companion. Training your dog properly actually strengthens the bond that already exists between dog and handler. Dogs are pack animals, and they look to their pack leader to tell them what to do. The key to successful dog training is to set yourself up as that pack leader.

Establishing yourself as pack leader is a very important concept for any potential dog trainer to understand. There is only one leader in every pack of dogs, and the owner must establish him or herself as the dominant animal. Failure to do so leads to all manner of behavior problems.

A properly trained dog will respond properly to all the owner’s commands, and will not display anxiety, displeasure or confusion. A good dog training program will focus on allowing the dog to learn just what is expected of it, and will use positive reinforcement to reward desired behaviors.

In addition to making the dog a good member of the community, obedience training is a great way to fulfill some of the dog’s own needs, including the need for exercise, the security that comes with knowing what is expected of it, a feeling of accomplishment and a good working relationship with its handler. Dog training gives the dog an important job to do, and an important goal to reach.

Giving the dog a job is more important than you may think. Dogs were originally bred by humans to do important work, such as herding sheep, guarding property and protecting people. Many dogs today have no important job to do, and this can often lead to boredom and neurotic behavior.

Dog house training very easy and simple too, the first thing you'll need to do is buy your best pet friend a nice dog training collar, lead and dog crate. You should choose one made of nylon or soft leather.


if your puppy grows older, you can buy him a heavier collar, and if he's a large breed, it should be made of heavy leather, with a strong buckle and clip. Dog house training can be simple. We'll need to be patient and prepared to spend enough time to work with your new friend right from the start. We can avoid your doggie being among the 60% that land up in humane societies (dog pound) because of behavioral problems. It's like being on a dog rescue mission.
Your little sweetie can be left in the crate for 6-8 hours at a time. You mostly do it at night time when you go to bed, but can also do it during the day if you have to be away. When you're at home, leave the puppy out of the crate, but set a timer (you know, one of those we use in the kitchen for timing) for every 60-90 minutes (no cheating; 90 minutes is the maximum). Each time the timer rings, take the pup out for a walk for 10 minutes, giving them the chance to eliminate, and reward them when they are successful.

Positive reinforcement and love is the way to go. Don't be surprised if you walk them for 10 minutes, nothing happens, and when you come back in the house they have an accident on the kitchen floor. BE PATIENT. These are only some guidelines. But, take your time and do not become frustrated. In a month, or so, you will look back and laugh. Remember that your puppy will grow very fast, so his first dog collar should be adjustable. Often the puppy's breeder will give you a collar and lead with your puppy when you pick him up. Dog care and training really can be fun.

You and your best pet friend so to speak grow up together. If your puppy is not used to a collar yet, he should start his dog training by wearing the collar in the house for a few days. At first he will try to get rid of the collar, but in an hour or so he will get used to it, and then you can remove it. Remember dog house training benefits everyone.

by David Letterman.
Indeed, the Medicis - over-the-top dog people, even by Renaissance standards - supposedly had a dog who not only cleared the dishes, but poured vino without spilling a drop. And arguably for as long as dogs, cats and other creatures have shared our hearths, humans have delighted in any behavior that offers the glimmer of kinship.
But from an animal's perspective, trick-training can provide challenges in an otherwise ho-hum world.

"Probably the biggest reason dogs misbehave is they don't get enough exercise or mental stimulation," says Teresa Hanula of A Dog's World Dog Training & Pet Care in Fairfax, Va., whose trick-savvy 3-year-old border collie, Leroy, has his own Web site, www.theamazingleroy.com. "A half-hour of training can tire them out more than an hour at a dog park. And it helps them learn how to learn."
Another advantage to trick training is owners get less hung up on obedience, says Gerilyn Bielakiewicz, author of "The Only Dog Tricks Book You'll Ever Need" (Adams Media, $7.95). "It's a lot more lighthearted, and people don't expect their dog to do it, so they're kinder and more generous with reinforcements - which is how we should be all the time."
Liz Palika, author of "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Dog Tricks" (Alpha, $14.95), says weaving, or high-speed zig-zagging through a line of upright poles, is one of the most popular lessons in her trick-training classes. "People see that on Animal Planet, and it looks so cool when the dog goes zip, zip, zip through."
Whether your goal is a simple "roll over" or an elaborately choreographed skit, here are some tips to keep in mind:
Build a foundation. "Your dog has to have a good grasp of basic commands because most tricks start with 'sit' or 'stand' or 'watch me.' " Palika says, adding that owners often overlook teaching "stand," in which a dog, well, stands in place.
Accentuate the positive. The popularity of positive techniques such as clicker training is a boon for trick-training. "You can't make a dog play-bow," Bielakiewicz reminds. Instead, owners reward behaviors they want, which in turn increases their frequency.
And be ready to capitalize on serendipity.
Have patience. Some dogs are going to be learn more quickly than others, and those that have trouble concentrating need shorter training sessions. Remember that like people, dogs are right- and left-handed, so they tend to favor one side over another.
Even once a dog is well-trained, his peccadilloes will resurface. Leroy, a seasoned Letterman alum, "tends to be a bit of a ham," Hanula says. "Once he hears people laugh or clap, he's like, 'Thanks for the ride, mom,' and keeps repeating the trick he just did."
Don't be a species-ist. "Cats are smart creatures that learn tricks just fine, and they'll work for food," says veterinarian E'Lise Christensen, a resident at the Animal Behavior Clinic at Cornell University Hospital for Animals in Ithaca, N.Y. "They just work at a different pace than dogs - after two or three minutes, they're done for a while."
Christensen has taught her cat to sit, spin and shake, which was the toughest. "Offering a foot to hold or touch is not a normal behavior for a cat," she says. But thanks to all the trick-training, "he actually purrs when I clip his nails."
Be careful what you wish for. Palika refuses to teach tail-chasing in her classes because "there are way too many obsessive-compulsive dogs out there." For many herding dogs and terriers, as well as breeds predisposed to neurotic tail-chasing, such as bullterriers, "it can become addictive, and getting them to stop can be very difficult."
Laser-light toys are another no-no. "Some dogs then begin to look for anything that's shiny," Palika explains, "from the glint of the sun off the crystal on your watch or the


via www.bradenton.com

NEVER – under any circumstances – hit, kick, slap, swat or spank your dog! This serves no purpose whatsoever, other than to vent your own anger. It will, however, destroy your dog's trust in you as well as other people. Dogs who are hit and spanked become anxious, fearful and hand-shy (distrusting and scared of human hands reaching out to pet them). They can also become aggressive.

Trust and Respect vs. Fear

The foundation of good dog training is trust and respect (not to mention lots of love!).

If your dog trusts and respects you, it will be much easier for him to accept and learn the training with a clear mind. Hitting a dog ultimately teaches him to fear you – how can you teach a dog who is scared of your hand or your voice, or is wary of coming close to you?

Making Bad Behavior Worse

In some cases, hitting or spanking a dog as punishment can make their behavior worse! While you might be saying "NEVER AGAIN" with a swat or a slap, your dog might be learning "never again in your presence"! Your dog will very quickly learn to wait till you aren't around to jump up on the counter and steal food, or he might urinate in a hidden area while you aren't looking. Once your dog learns this type of behavior, it is VERY hard to untrain him! That's right, "untrain" – once your dog starts doing things behind your back because he doesn't want to get hit by doing them in your presence, you can be sure that you've successfully trained him to do so. It's much harder to untrain a learned behavior than to train a new behavior!

Creating a Fearful or Aggressive Dog

Perhaps the saddest result of a dog who is physically struck on a regular basis is that dog becoming fearful or aggressive. One dog might become ultra-submissive, cowering in the presence of people and completely distrustful of them, while another dog might show his distrust through snapping, growling, even biting. This isn't how dogs are meant to live.

Never hit your dog - he'll love you for it!

Daniel Collinsworth More dog training articles can be found here: Dog Training Basics

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Daniel_Collinsworth

Obedience training is one of the best things you can do for your dog and yourself. In fact, a well trained dog is by far a happier dog! Why? Because a trained dog requires much fewer restrictions, so the more reliable the dog, the more freedom he/she is given.

Dogs are social animals and without proper training, they will behave just like animals.(A dog is a pack animal. It prefers to be with companions) They can soil your house, chew your belongings, bark at everything that moves, dig up your back garden, attack other dogs and even attack you or your children! Training serves to strengthen the bond between a dog and his owner.


It builds communication and mutual respect, and effectively demonstrates to your dog that you're the leader of the pack without resorting to smacking or hitting. Dogs have their own personalities and mindset. They can be stubborn, dominant, submissive, or fearful, characteristics that can make them difficult to own and train.

Obedience training is also an easy way to establish the social hierarchy. Training can be accomplished at home, in an obedience class, or with a private trainer. When your dog obeys a simple command he/she is showing compliance and respect for you. A well-behaved, obedient trained dog is a pleasure to own because he can go virtually anywhere without being a risk or nuisance to others or themselves ( an untrained dog loose near traffic is an accident waiting to happen). At the end of the day dog obedience training really benefits everybody. Remember dog ownership is a big responsibility and there is nothing fast and simple about it, consistency is important in dog training, in fact patience, persistence and consistency are the most important concepts in any kind of teaching. Obedience training should be fun and rewarding for both you and your dog.

When searching for a trainer or instructor to help with training your dog there are different types of training available, remember an obedience instructor works with people not dogs, then the people work with their pets. Whereas a dog trainer teaches your dog to obey, then teaches you how to get the dog to listen to you.

Author is a long term dog trainer and rescuer, see more of her articles on dog training and obedience here, remember a well trained dog is a happy dog and happy dogs make happy owners!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Janie_Stewart

With so many people advertising in the field of professional dog training today, trying to determine who's truly qualified to look after your dog can be overwhelming. What to look for when choosing a professional to help you with dog training :

1) A good reputation, ask around and get recommendations from your vet, other dog owners, or local kennel clubs.

2) Experience. - Inquire about their background, i.e. number of years experience.


3)A genuine love of and devotion to dogs.

4) Extensive and up to date knowledge. Dedicated trainers keep themselves updated by attending dog training and animal behaviour courses, conferences, seminars and workshops.

5) Their training methodology and handling skills. A good trainers first concern should be the dogs well being.

6) Memberships with reputable associations, organizations and training clubs.

General dog obedience tips

Training should be a positive and enjoyable experience for both you and your dog. If you are not in the right mood for training, don’t even begin. Always reward your dog for obeying your commands promptly! A reward is anything that your dog wants and is willing to work for. Treats are an obvious reward but other rewards could be verbal praise and toys. Several shorter sessions are usually better than one long one. Training should not involve any negative components or punishment . There should be no shouting, no hitting or smacking, no chain jerking on choke chains or collars, and absolutely no electric shocking! Each training session should be enjoyable and positive with rewards for jobs well done.

Training with head collars

Pulling on the lead is one of the few unpleasant experiences of bringing up a new puppy or dog. Using a head collar for dog training has become very popular over the last few years. Training with a head collar does have some advantages over the traditional training collar. Although very simple to use, it is important that head collars are fitted correctly and your dog properly introduced to the collar. Head collars are generally more intuitive to use than a traditional training collar. Head collars are very effective when controlling dogs in difficult situations.

Do you ever find you are asking people these sort of questions? “How do you get your dog to sit when you tell him?", or "My dog won't walk to heel like yours, how on earth do you manage that level of obedience from your dog?", or do you find yourself noticing that other dogs go to their owners when they are called, but yours just stays where it is? Does this all sound familiar? If it does, you and your dog need to invest some time into a little bit of basic dog training.


Starting to train your dog from a young age is crucial, as the first few months of his life is when you will have the greatest influence on him - this is where he is shaped into the dog he is going to be when he is all grown up. Although it is possible to train an older dog, perhaps one that you have acquired from an animal shelter, it does require a lot more patience and is handled slightly differently.

The first basic dog training that your dog absolutely must have, is to be taught how to sit and to come to you when you call him. It is essential that your dog learns these dog training basics. You will use these two commands for many different reasons - if your dog jumps up at you, or at someone else an obeyed command to sit will soon get him off. Knowing that your pet dog will come to you when called is the most important basic training that your dog needs to learn. If you take your dog for a walk, and let him off the leash, you will expect him to come back to you, not run around the park with you chasing after him shouting at him like a banshee. That would just be highly embarrassing, not to mention dangerous.

To teach your dog how to come to you when called, requires only the most basic of techniques but like most of the basic dog training, it does involve lots of repetition. The easiest way to get your dog to come to you, is to have a favourite toy in one hand and a dog treat in the other. When you are in the house simply walk away from your dog, hold out the toy and call him to you in an excited voice, your dog with naturally want to know what all the fuss is about, and then when he comes over to investigate, give him a treat. You must always ensure that you using exactly the same command each time you call your dog to come to you, otherwise he will just not learn. If you are able to use this technique several times a day, you will find that your dog will learn the basic command to come to you when called quite quickly, and is a great way to teach your dog. Do remember to have lots of long breaks so he doesn’t get bored and stop enjoying it, and don’t forget the treats!

The next basic command in Dog Training, is to get him to sit, and this generally proves to be slightly more difficult, but again, as with the command to come to you, it only requires basic dog training. So once you have both mastered him coming back to you when called, you are ready to proceed to the next stage in basic dog training.

To start your dog being trained to sit on command, call him to you (remembering to use the command he has learnt) and place your hand on the end of his back and say "sit" in a very matter of fact voice, at the same time you should gently push down on his backside. When he sits on his bottom you give him a treat and just as importantly, also give him a lot of praise. If you want him to sit for a longer period, just delay giving him the treat and the praise, so get him to sit but take your time bending down to him and feeding him his treat. As with the training to come to you, this will need lots of repetition and praise, but your dog will learn with enough practise.

Basic dog training is really quite simple and it is very effective. It should also be fun for you and your dog - you don't have to spend hours and hours each day on this, just 5 - 10 minutes or so, and you will be surprised at how much, and how quickly your dog will learn.

Please feel free to use this article, as long as the author name and the resource box details are left untouched, with the links all working.

For further articles about dogs and pets in general visit http://www.petinformationsite.com/Training.html

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It is essential that you develop a close, positive bond with your dog, and to do that you must know how a dog thinks. Your dog will view you and your own family as his new family. It’s important to make sure your new dog or puppy feels like he is part of it.

If you do a good job bonding with your dog, you’ll be well on your way to having a well-adjusted, well-behaved pet. Good bonding means that your pet understands that he is part of your family and will want to please you. Here are seven secrets trainers use to create a positive bond with dogs:

1. Spend time with your dog. When the dog comes into your home, someone ideally should be within his hearing distance 24/7 for at least a week. If you can, take a vacation from work when you get your new dog. Spending a lot of time with him initially will get you both off on the right foot.

2. Use baby gates rather than closed doors. If you don’t want your puppy in a room with you, at least let him be able to see and hear you through a baby gate.

3. Use a crate. You’ll be using a crate to housebreak your puppy, but even older dogs find the security of their own “den” comforting. You can also move a crate from room to room so the dog can be around the family.

4. Let the dog sleep next to your bed. Your dog or puppy will smell you even while you are both sleeping, which helps with the bonding process.

5. Tether your dog to you while you’re doing chores around the house. Simply hook a leash to your belt loop and go about your business. Try to do this for at least an hour every day. Not only will your puppy bond with you, you’ll be able to keep a close eye on him to make sure he doesn't chew your favorite shoes! This works well with an older dog coming into your home, too. The dog gets to know your routine without being the center of attention.

6. Brush your dog daily. Most dogs love to be brushed, and it’s a good time to pet and talk to your dog.

7. Limit speaking to your dog. One expert suggests not speaking to your dog for a week once you get him home so he’ll listen to you when you begin training. Silence works as a signal that things are changing with an older dog that need obedience training whether he’s been in your home six years or six hours, and it’s a great way to start. Most dog owners find it impossible to do, though!

8. Take your new dog with you anywhere you can. If the weather is cool enough to leave him in a car, take him with you on errands. Take him on walks, visits and to work if you can. Expose him to new situations and people occasionally.

9. Play with your dog for at least 15 minutes every day. Your dog relies on you for his social stimulation, especially if he’s an “only dog.” Social stimulation is as important as food and water!

10. Give your dog down time. As important as bonding is, you need to remember that your dog is looking to you to find out where he fits in your family. Making him the constant center of attention leads him to believe he is the leader in your household. Put your dog in his crate while you are eating meals or after your children go to sleep.

Preventing bad habits is better than having to eliminate them, so bond with your new dog so that you can begin his training immediately. Don’t allow your puppy or new dog to practice any behavior that you don’t want to break later.

Marilyn Burnham

As we all know, dogs don't have any manners because most owners do not know how to teach dogs manners. So instead of training our dogs properly we end up yelling at our dogs or smacking them with a rolled up newspaper. After a few days most of us give up and put our dog out back. That's if we even have a back yard. If we don't then we usually end up giving the dog away because we can't deal with the dog acting up anymore.

If we would have taken the time to get our dogs obedience training; none of this would have happened. Obedience training will take care of most bad behavior from our dogs and it can be beneficial to both of us. Dogs become more obedient, doing everything they're told to do and we are happier because we get to keep our happy dog inside with us.

Obedience training covers a wide variety of lessons. A dog can be taught tricks, show dog exercises, services for the handicapped, rescue, sniffing and hunting. Actually there are a lot more things a dog can be taught but we will save those for next time. One last thing on that note; dogs can be taught to obey commands in a different language. This is good when you are attacked by someone, you can command the dog in a language the bad guy doesn't understand and the bad guy won't be able to change the command using English.

Training can be done at a dog training facility or it can be done at home; whatever your budget will allow. A dog can be trained in a class setting or by a private teacher. For one to train a dog it takes understanding of your dog's behaviour, which you can learn about from the many books published. It will take a lot of patience as it could take some time to properly train your dog. One of the key points is being consistent otherwise your dog may become confused. To train your dog properly, you will need a collar and a leash. Do not use a chain or a rope as they can hurt your dog.

The ultimate goal of training your dog is to build a bond between you. A well-trained dog is a much happier dog and a much happier you. Attend the dog training so you can watch how your instructor teaches your dog. You will want to follow their program as closely as possible; so you don't confuse the dog. Make sure you stick to the training; you paid for it so you might as well get your money's worth. Make sure your dog is having fun. They will enjoy the training much more.
Michael Russell - EzineArticles Expert Author

Michael Russell

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