Dogs will naturally do things that we don't want them to do. They will chew anything that they can get their teeth on, they will bark like there is no tomorrow, they will pee and poo where they please, they will dig holes and destroy the backyard, and so on. If we want the dog to behave, we must train him. Dogs do not possess the ability to learn proper behavior on their own.

There are two basic methods of dog training - positive and negative reinforcement. Most experts in the field of animal behavior recommend positive reinforcement as a primary method of training.

Positive reinforcement is a punishment-free training method where the trainer rewards a dog for good behavior. A desired behavior is reinforced with rewards such as treats, verbal praises, toys, and so on. The dog will associate something positive for specific behavior and this will increase the likelihood of performing that behavior in the future. Eventually he or she will do it with no tricks or treats.

The opposite of positive reinforcement in a negative reinforcement where the trainer delivers a punishment, or negative consequence, when the dog performs an undesirable behavior. Punishment gets the dog to stop doing something. Negative reinforcement is connected to misbehavior.

Most experts agree that dog friendly training based on positive reinforcement is more effective that negative reinforcement. It's not associated with fear, discomfort, pain, or avoiding something and in general produces better results.

Although the main training method should be positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement does have its role in the training process. But it should be used very carefully, because it can produce a significant long-lasting negative effects.

I myself always use mainly positive reinforcement techniques to train my dogs and I love training them. This builds a strong relationship and it's a great way to bond. Always remember, a well behaved dog is a happy dog and a credit to its owner.

Posted under Dogs

Asking your pet not to be able to go out to relieve himself for eight to ten hour stretches is a lot to ask. If you're a pet owner and work outside the home I'm sure you already understand this. This only creates stress for both pet and owner.

Then, regardless of how much we love our pets there are always those times when you are home and your pet annoys you because he needs to go out to relieve himself or just to play outside. This can be a hassle especially if you are trying to get things done.

Did you know their is a simple solution to these problems? Yes, it's a pet door. More freedom for you. More freedom for your pet. Pet doors eliminate these problems and more. No more coming home to clean up after your pet. No more interruptions while fixing dinner.

The pet door itself is not that difficult to install provided you can follow directions and you're handy with tools. If not then it's fairly inexpensive to have a handyman install it for you.

Before getting your pet door you will need some basic information. The height and width of your pet, What type of pet door is best for you. Patio pet door, electronic, or wall. There are many varieties available for you to choose from.

While looking for your new pet door keep in mind how difficult it will be to install as some are more difficult than others. In any event you may just want to ask for the help of a neighbor or friend or the services of a handyman.

Pet doors come in many different sizes, shapes, colors and of course vary in price. That's why you need to do your research before making a final decision on which door you want to go with. My preference is an electronic pet door. It offers many advantages over other types.

The electronic pet door is activated by a signaling device attached to your pets collar. This gives you the peace of mind of knowing the door remains sealed, keeping out unwanted guests and only opens and closes when your pet approaches it. This also reduces the loss of heating and air conditioning.

After you've installed your pet door it's time to train your pet to use it. Just like training your pet to do anything the best course of action is encouragement and reward. They will catch on soon enough. Then both you and your pet can enjoy the new found freedom a pet door brings.

Posted under Puppy

A dog with a biting problem is by far a pet owners worst nightmare. Weve all seen horror stories on the evening news about Pitt Bulls, Rottweilers, along with other breeds both large and small viscously attacking, postal carriers, children and other neighborhood pets. This is of course, the worst case scenario, but unfortunately dog biting does happen on occasion. This alone should be motivation enough for the responsible pet owner to make sure they stop a biting problem before it happens.

A dog should be initiated into the anti-biting program early enough, when it is only a puppy and the best way to do it is by making it mingle with better behaved dogs. Those dogs will train it in their own way, and will also guide you in training it. Though biting is instinctive in the case of dogs, you have to instill into your dog early enough that biting cannot be tolerated, and that is the only way in which you can become the proud owner of a dog that does not bite.

Since most pups are taken away from their mother and siblings after only their second month of life, it is very important that you take on the mother roll. Dogs learn the majority of their behavior during the first four months of life, which is why rescue dogs and dogs that come from puppy mills are more prone to biting than dogs whom come from responsible and respected breeders.

Puppy mills are dingy unhygienic places, commercial in nature, where all that the breeders are concerned about is the profit that they can make on a pooch. Puppies that are the products of these places have a wild temperament and have physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral problems. Since they have never seen good behavior, they have no idea what it is.

However, even if you have chosen to raise a rescue dog that has a tendency to bite, it is not impossible to correct it. Needless to say, training a pup is easier than training an adult dog, but even a grown dog with a biting habit can be trained to give up the habit.

The method of training a big dog is not all that different from training a young one, the only requirement being that it should be done a little mildly. If a grown dog has biting tendencies, it cannot be left unleashed among other dogs, hoping that it would get trained the natural way, taking the cue from the other dogs; nor can it be allowed to roam free in a playground if it has a tendency to bite children. That will just be sticking your neck out to be caught in a lawsuit.

The dog has to be trained in a phased manner, by being taken around a dog park so that it becomes familiar with the other dogs, and then slowly bringing it into closer contact with them. Perseverance and determination are what sets the tone for succeeding in ridding a dog of this unwelcome habit.

Posted under Dogs