Training A Dog Not To Bite

Ask any young dog and you will find that its favourite occupation is to chew something. Using its teeth is important to a dog and therefore, training a dog not to bite is essential to stop unacceptable behaviour later on.

It is never acceptable for a dog to bite anyone and that is why your puppy needs to learn early on that certain behaviour will not be tolerated in any circumstances.
After all, dogs that exhibit a tendency to bite will be a danger to themselves as well as everyone living close to your house, not to mention expensive for you in terms of legal fees and problems with your neighbours.
Therefore, it is very important that you embark on a course of dog training that includes a section on training a dog not to bite as soon as possible after bringing your new pet home for the first time. Even at home there are certain things you can do to start your dog on the right road to obedience.
Consistent Discipline
Training a dog not to bite starts with excluding any playtime activities that could lead to nipping or chewing of any kind. The sort of things that could do this include playing tug of war with a toy such as a rubber bone or one of those strong rope playthings you see at pet stores.
In addition, never allow your puppy or dog to bite your hand, even playfully this is telling your dog that it is acceptable to use its teeth on you. Allowing this sort of behaviour will make training a dog not to bite even harder as your dog will become confused because sometimes it can bite and sometimes not. How is it in its mind going to distinguish between right and wrong?
Mixing With Other People’s Dogs
Many dogs will learn pretty early on in life that aggressive biting is just socially unacceptable as soon as they interact with other dogs. A strong reaction from another dog will usually be enough to warn your pet that what it is doing is not to be tolerated amongst others of its kind.
What you have to do is build on this to further inform your dog through training that biting is also not acceptable in regard to interaction with humans.
In an ideal world your puppy would learn the social skills with its peers whilst it is still part of the litter. However, most puppies are removed from the litter at an early stage and so miss out on this valuable lesson.
This provides you with a need to give your puppy some socialisation lessons and the best way to do this is to get it to interact with other dogs once it is safe to do so following its inoculations.
Training a dog not to bite therefore can be covered using a two part process, social interaction with other dogs at an early stage reinforced by training at home that is consistent in its message that biting a human is never acceptable.
Tom Shadow has owned and trained dogs all his life.
If you fancy some free dog training lessons then head over to Tom Shadow’s site

Dog Training Techniques, The Fundamentals

We have trained our 2 hunting dogs with numerous dog training techniques. Our Vizslas Abby and Peaches hunt and are competitive in AKC sponsored events. These are the fundamentals with which we teach our dogs.
Flexibility, Consistency, Fairness or Positive attitude are all key to successful dog training.
To train any type of dog, you need a solid foundation. Apply these basics with any dog training method you use.
Remember to trust yourself and your dog while you train. The most important part of successful training is your partnership.
Flexibility - Don't just repeat what has worked in the past with another dog. Each dog is unique. Be prepared to handle each unique training situation.
Consistency - Dogs learn through repetition. If you send mixed signals or do not correct unwanted behavior every time, your dog will not learn.
Positive attitude - Like people, dogs learn best from positive experiences. Focus on rewarding desired behaviors. Avoid working with your dog when you are frustrated or upset.
Fairness - Never correct your dog out of anger. The correction will not help your dog learn. It will only damage your relationship.
Confidence - Trust yourself!! Believe in your ability to train your dog well, and you will be successful in what ever dog training techniques you use.
Know your dog - Giving dog training commands is not enough. You must also read your dog's body language and respond accordingly.
React quickly - When you give immediate praise or correction, your dog can make the connection between the behavior and the consequence. That's how dog training works. But you must be alert so you can respond quickly.
Training notes - Keep track of your progress. Note what works and what doesn't. List the dog training commands he still needs to practice. Having this information handy will be valuable as you continue learning how to train a dog better.
Enjoy training - When you and your dog have fun, training is easier and more effective. Use games and activities to practice commands and skills with your dog. Be creative and try new things so training never gets boring for either of you.
Tools - Your energy and attitude are important in dog training. But your dog training techniques must also include the right tools: leashes, collars, treats, etc. The wrong tools can make good training impossible.

Start slowly - Do not expect your dog to learn "Stay" if he does not know "Sit." Do not expect your hunting dogs to follow commands if they do not know basic obedience. Training is a gradual process. Each step builds on the previous step.
Socialization - Dog training commands are only part of obedience. You also need to socialize your dog. That means he needs positive encounters with new people, animals, and environments regularly starting as a puppy.
Environment - Start with a distraction-free environment. You want the dogs to focus on you. As your dogs improve, train in new environments and with more distractions.
Health - Your dog must be in good health during training. Make sure to feed him a high-quality diet, low in artificial products and fillers.
Breaks - Don't push yourself or your dog too hard during training. Take time for a rest. Sit down together for a drink of water. Play a game of fetch. Go for a swim. Remember to enjoy your dog not just train your dog.

Guide to Leash Walking Your Puppy

Taking your puppy out on a leash walk does not only train your pet; it also brings in health and social benefits for him. It is not just an exercise; it also serves as a way of teaching your dog to be obedient to you. He learns to explore new places and situations but does not become stubborn. But there is more to just dragging your pet when leash walking. There are things that you should take note when you bring your puppy out on a leash walk.
If it is your first time to walk your puppy to the park, make sure to stroll briskly. Do not let your puppy slow your pace. If your pet is dragging on his feet, do not wait for him. The trick is to walk faster, as if it was cold and raining. This will give your puppy the idea to keep on walking. This will also prevent your dog from straying or from looking at other people and objects that might catch his attention. If you keep your enthusiasm throughout your walk, your puppy will also feel the joy of the activity.

During moments when the puppy attempts to move in a different direction or stops suddenly, be patient. You may halt with your puppy and console him. Try to see if he is injured or if he needs to rest. If he heads off to a new direction where he is not allowed to go, then try to get back his attention and move on with your walk.
Your puppy, during this time, may also attempt to pull away from you. The best way to respond is to give him a gentle pop on the head using the leash. Avoid tugging or ripping your puppy, as it would cause him to jerk. Gently pop the leash into the direction where you should be walking. While doing this, you can also talk sweet words to your pet, like "come on, sweetie", or "were you hurt". Say these words while you are walking. This way, you are training your puppy to keep moving, and that every time he switches direction, he gets a pop on the head.
Sometimes, the leash can make your puppy feel exhausted. Try to adjust the tightness of the leash. Better yet, put more allowance or distance between your hands and your puppy's neck. The shorter the distance, the more drag your puppy feels. After a successful leash walk, cheer your puppy, give him a hug, and reward him with his favorite food.

Puppy Toilet Training: Tips For Owners

Puppy toilet training is one of the most important trainings in every dog’s life – as well as yours being a dog owner. Having a dog that is not successfully toilet trained means having a poop-scooping and pee-cleaning life. Considering these facts, you indeed have to do something to avoid urine stains in your expensive carpet or piles of poop somewhere under your bed. What you have to do is train your puppy to eliminate at the right time at your designated spot.
Puppy toilet training is not the easiest neither an impossible thing to do. All you need is the right training advice on how to achieve your goals – a reliably trained canine companion.
First advice is to understand your dog’s need to eliminate. Take note that puppies do not have full control of their bladders and bowels. Thus they must be taken out to eliminate at the following times:

- after eating - after drinking - immediately after waking - when excited - after playing or exercise - before sleeping Just take your dog out at least every one to two hours and you’ll be safe.
Feed your dog at approximately the same time everyday. Feeding on regular schedule will help your dog establish regular potty time.
Another important thing a dog owner must understand is the signs indicating that the dog has to go. Sniffing around, circling round in one spot or holding the tail high is your dog’s simple way of telling you that something is on the way.

Some people find crate as an effective tool in toilet training a puppy. Having den dwelling ancestors, domesticated dogs would never soil their dens as much as possible. This is ideal in helping them control their urge to eliminate. Just remember to take your pup out regularly to avoid soiling the den.
Understand that successful training cannot be achieved for only a day or two. Time as well as consistency and determination are other contributing factors to make Fido learn what he has to learn. Accidents will happen and if they do, never punish your dog for it. Hitting him or rubbing his nose in the spot will not make him realize his mistake but rather create behavior associated problem.
If despite your best efforts, the puppy is continually having accidents and toilet training tips don’t seem to work, seek out your vet’s advice. It could be sign of a disease that must be addressed at once.
Richard Cussons is a great lover of dogs. Tired of cleaning your dog's mess? Discover useful puppy toilet training tips here