There are dogs that are hard to train. They are stubborn and would not respond to basic commands. If your dog is being particularly difficult, you might want to get a dog training collar. While the idea of having a collar to get your dog to follow your command, you should put in mind that a dog training collar is merely a tool to help you with training your dog. It is not the all and end all answer to dog training. When it is used effectively and properly, it can deliver very positive results.

What is a Dog Collar?
A dog collar is a rounded piece of material that is put around the dog’s neck. It is basically used to control a dog or identify him. Oftentimes, you’d see identification tags on dogs. Dog collars are common tools for directing or training dogs. Like anything, misuse of dog collars could cause injury or death.

Kinds of Dog Training Collars

There are different types of dog training collars. They come in all shapes and sizes. If you would go online, you’d end up with numerous brands for dog collars. A search in Google could give you Innotek, Sportdog, TriTronics, Dogtra and DT Systems collar. When choosing your dog training collar, you need to make sure that the collar goes well with your leash. This will allow you to control your dog without hurting him. So, make sure your dog collar fits well around your dog’s neck. It might be a good idea to take your dog neck’s measurement before you buy anything or to take your dog when you go shopping for a dog collar.

There are different kinds of dog collars. This includes the choke collar which is further classified into three kinds - the limited choke collar, snap-around choke collar and the choke chain. They serve various purposes. For instance, if you are going to train a service dog, you may want to get the limited choke collar. It fits perfectly around your dog’s neck so even if you pull on it with your dog’s leash, the collar wouldn’t change in size. So, you would avoid hurting your dog.

If you are looking for the healthiest and safest choke collar, you would want to get the snap-around choke collar. This collar doesn’t contract and it rides high on your dog’s neck so you would avoid pushing on your dog’s windpipe if you pull his leash. You would only need to use minimum force when training your dog. If you accidentally pull your hard, you wouldn’t have to worry about your snapping your dog’s neck backward.

Choosing Your Dog Training Collar

Basically, there are some factors that you have to consider when choosing your dog collar. These include finding the perfect fit. Your dog’s collar should fit snugly on your dog’s neck. It shouldn’t be too tight or too loose. Another thing that you have to consider is the size and measure of your dog’s head and neck. Measure the size so you would know what kind of dog training collar to get. Also, make sure that when you place the collar around your dog’s neck that it would rest on the top of his neck and not on the side or under his neck.

Have a great dog training day,

Dr. Alfonso

A guard dog is particularly trained to protect against unforeseen visits from people or animals. A guard dog has the intuitive mind that will either restrain or attack an intruder if it gets into its territory. However, there are some misconceptions concerning a watch dog and a guard dog. These two are diverse in some ways. A watch dog would only give warning barks to an intruder that comes close in range. On the other hand, guard dogs can do both tasks of sending warning barks and other functions that are considered extremes.

Hence, guard dog training tips have become more popular these days. Guard dog training requires careful planning and proper implementation to make everything possible and to generate a better outcome. Training tips like the drive and bite must be well taught. Also, dog obedience and other pertinent commands must always be put into effect in order to let him know the right time to do his guarding duties and when the time to relax and take it easy.

Some of the popular guard dog breeds comprise of the Doberman Pinschers and German Shepherd Dogs. These types of dogs are good candidates for a guard dog since they have the innate instinct to guard. Guard dogs are known to be brave dogs, intelligent and are committed to excellence of work. The instincts of these dogs must be ensured in a way that they can still be controlled when there will be unexpected cases.

There are different types of guard dog training tips that also depend on different levels and what needs to be guarded. Guard dog training courses also rely on ways on how you want your dog to respond to some of the situations he may be encountering in the future or to some instances that would require him to use his abilities as guard dogs. These dogs can be trained to secure a particular area, such as the house, place of business, a property, or other valuables things that needed to be secured.

Guard dog training tips should be solely administered to a dog once he has finished and undergone basic dog obedience training. The dog obedience training is considered a dog’s foundation as he is specifically prepared for guard duties. And so, the better the obedience training your dog acquires, the higher the tendency of being more efficiently he will be in his guarding responsibilities.

There are different guard dog training tips and courses catered in different guard dog training schools. All of which are tailored depending on the kind of protection and security you need. The simplest course of guard dog training includes the testing of the dog’s temperament. The next level involves the drive and bite work, while the most intensive and rigorous courses would train the dog to protect his owners by means of attacking and restraining intruders.

The main purpose of the guard dog training course is to make your dog confident, and powerful whilst his passion to protect you, your family and your property.

Have a great dog training day,

Dr. Alfonso

Clicker dog training has become one of the most prominent dog training tools for over the years now. The use of clicker training is somehow different from the rest of other conventional dog training methods.
Foods are considered to be primary motivation for dogs to do well especially if a particular command is being ordered. Foods are used for primary and positive reinforcement. Thus, the use of punishment and negative reinforcement should be avoided in performing the clicker training. Also, in executing the training exercises, the sessions should be done briefly. These sessions should be performed in less than five minutes in each exercise.

A lot of professional clicker trainers believed that dogs will learn in an intense manner if they undergo in a relatively short sessions than doing long hours of training that might be very tiresome and tedious on your dog’s part. When this is not taken proper consideration this would lead to your dogs lose of interest. Studies have also shown that developing a good behavior through the use of clicker dog training entails a considerably lesser amount of time than undergoing on standard dog training.

This is how a clicker is used; a click trainer clicks it on when the dog performs a specific command like the sitting position. After the click, the trainer would then grant the dog a reward for a good deed. As time goes by and as training goes along, the dog will associate the sound of the clicker with the reward. This particular reward can be anything that ranges from foods like hot dogs and chicken. It can also be in the form of a play like the use of objects such as tennis ball, or any kinds of activities that your dog finds enjoyable.

If you prefer using a food reward, make certain that you use small pieces of food. This is a perfect way of getting your dog’s attention without diverting his focus on the food and all things about the clicker dog training.

A click is also considered to be a lot more powerful for training use than by means of spoken words. This is particularly true as the distinct and unique sound coming from the clicker indicates and signifies the coming of a great reward. The clicker and rewards can then be set aside when the time comes that your dog is able to follow the cues on a constant basis. The said behavior can be sustained by restoring expensive rewards with the more important reward like a simple pat on the head.

Since clicker dog training does not rely heavily on punishment or negative reinforcement to generate better results, this is considered the only method of dog training that is gleaned to be the safest and most effective especially to those puppies that are just few weeks old. Therefore, clicker training is not a universal dog training method and still the most important thing is that you can be able to teach your dogs with basic obedience that he can use in his growing years.

Have a great dog training day,

Dr. Alfonso

Basic dog training tips are made accessible to many different sites online. Basic training guidelines comprise of potty training your dogs, training it to do some tricks and most importantly coaching your dogs to behave accordingly.

There are also dog training tips for teaching your dogs to easily adapt to drastic changes in the environment, the way it behaves around other dogs and also to strangers. It is also imperative to teach your dogs instructions to follow your commands. This includes the utilization of dog obedience classes. This is a kind of dog training that entails obedience classes that doesn’t only teach your pets on how to obey your commands but as well as to teach them on how to properly behave and be trained at home.

The next basic training tip is to teach your dogs the proper behavior through games. This way your dogs will not only learn how to behave properly but will also enjoy the learning experience. Try to be creative and avoid repetitive games so as not to create boredom on the part of your pup.

Dogs also love to go for a walk with their owners. A walking program for your dog is a great way of developing your pets’ moods swings. Walking your dog can result to a more relaxed and less stressed out pet especially when the brain chemicals are balanced. Thus, walking your dog regularly will make both you and your pet happier, healthier, and developed a good rapport.

There are also a lot of benefits your dog can acquire through the walking program. One of the benefits is to help them lose their extra flab and spare pounds. Because of the weight loss this could help your pet live longer and reduce the risk of common ailments like arthritis, hip displasia and other diseases that will greatly affect your dog’s breathing and movement. Apart from this, other chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and osteoarthritis will be lessened due to your dog’s proper exercise.

When your dog’s shows positive and good responses always remember to give him praises. Dogs love praises and this would be a good motivation for them to do well. Along with the basic dog training tips, it is also salient to give your dog a positive reinforcement. Even though, praise is a form of positive reinforcement, still there are other ways of doing it by means of treats and rewards to reinforce pleasing behavior.

It would also help a great deal if you will provide disciplinary trainings to resolve in advance possible problems that may arise as your dog grows. This is a perfect means of having your dog acquire, self discipline, creative intelligence and a lot more as he discovers the world.

Have a great dog training day,
Dr. Alfonso

Perhaps one of the most fulfilling part of being a dog owner is the greatest joy it brings. The tight bond that binds between you and your dog is considered invaluable that no material thing can ever compensate. However, if this is done in an excessive manner could also lead to serious problems in the long run. Too much dependency could lead to a great deal of reliant resulting to dog separation anxiety.

Dog separation anxiety is a massive problem which major causes boils down to the concept of too much care for your dogs ending up to be very contingent on you. If you try to burrow deeply, separation anxiety on the part of your dog is very difficult to bear. They become closely intact and appease with your presence thus, when its time for you to leave, your dog suffers varying degrees of distress and anxiety. If you ever encounter problems like this, punishment will never be a solution in treating this kind of condition.

And so, here are few indications that your dog is suffering from separation anxiety if: Your dog gets anxious when you are about to leave the house. Things as a sign of leaving the house like your footsteps, car keys everything will send triggering behavior on your dog. Next sign can be the fact that your dog engages in inappropriate and odd behavior only when you are separated. Such behaviors include urinating inside, excessive barking and destructive behavior that are common symptoms of dog separation anxiety.

Next symptom would be your dog’s constant yearning of following you everywhere you go and at once becomes troubled the moment he can’t get near you. And lastly, when you arrive home your dog is in hysteria with the way he greets you and would take a while to calm down.

This can be very alarming, hence there is a need for you look closely and determine why dogs suffer from separation anxiety. There are a lot of theories and speculations and in some cases the major cause falls to a particular event and personal experiences of your dog.

Dogs separation anxiety according to study regularly occurs immediately after a change in routine. This can be your work hours changing or when a family member leaves home. Anxiety on dogs may take place if you have been on a vacation for quite some time. Also, dogs who are being rescued from animal shelters contribute to highly uneven number of separation anxiety cases. Apart from that, is when your dog experiences a traumatic event while on his own and the time when your dog is seldom left alone at home and has become overly dependent to the people around him. Lastly, when you move to a new house and a new environment, this can be particularly hard for your dog to adjust to a new place with different faces to get acquainted with.

And so, the best thing to do is to seek for professional help and ask what you can do to pacify and make certain that your dog will be in a good condition.

Have a great dog training day,

Dr. Alfonso