There are two basic steps to training your dog this first command and the first one is really quite simple, bond with your dog. Contrary to popular belief dogs will bond with their owner at any stage in their lives, all it takes is for the owner to show genuine affection and the dog will very soon appreciate that he is: loved, wanted and important to the owner. Teach a dog that and you have him for life.

So you’ve bonded. The second step is to find somewhere quiet and private.

Begin by calling your dog by its name. Hold up one of your dogs favourite treats. While the dog is standing hold the treat close to his nose and gently move it above his head. While moving the treat above the dogs head lightly place your other hand on the dog’s backside while gently pushing it down. Because the dog is looking up the ways it is pretty natural for him to slip into the sitting position. As you see the dog moving into the sitting position say ‘Sit’ in a firm, controlled voice.

Immediately the dog sits give it the treat and praise him enthusiastically telling him he is a ‘Good Dog,’ pet him and confirm he is a good dog. I like to do this exercise about half an hour before the dog is due its next meal, in that way I know he will really appreciate the treat.

What happens if the dog doesn’t sit properly? No worries just don’t give him the treat and have another try. When he gets the exercise right give him the treat. Very soon your dog will realize that there is a treat for him when you say ‘Sit’ and he sits properly.

Once you can get him to sit properly where it is private and quiet try the exercise where this is a little more distraction, perhaps in the front garden when traffic is passing up and down . Perhaps in the house with the television turned up, or with people coming in and out.

Over a period of time slowly decrease the reward that you give the dog until you have him sitting on your command alone.

By now your dog should know his first basic command.

“Here’s the fastest, most effective, and most FUN way to train your puppy or dog.”

Great care has been taken in the breeding of pure breed animals and each breed has become more refined over the centuries, but if care is not taken by the breeders you can end up with in-breeding. This in-breeding leads to congenital defects and uneven temperament which can make the animal more difficult to train.

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When it comes time to train these animals then by and large the training regime will be the same, in fact because the Mixed Breed has generally a better temperament it all probability it will learn more and learn faster.

The mutt, has escaped the congenital problems of many of the typical pure bred dogs. The mutt might not always have the same handsome lines of say a Dobermen Pinscher or the gorgeous coat of the champion Pomeranian but more likely than not it has certainly inherited the better characteristics from both of these lines and sometimes even more.

The only real difference between the training of a mixed breed animal and a pure breed dog is the ability to cross platforms with less transition trouble. If your dog is a mix between, say, an Irish Setter and a Red Bone Coon Hound, then you have a dog that, quite possibly, could be trained in the hunting of both birds and game mammals without much confusion.

Perhaps the mix is between a Husky and a German Shepherd? This would give you a large dog with both good defense skills and the muscle for real workouts like long days of hiking and running. Thus by a simple exchange you can gain a lot with very little loss.

The animal may no longer be pure bred and the aesthetic quality may, or may not, degenerate a bit but you gain a lot in the way of a responsive and easily trained canine. When you weigh in these facts it is hard to understand why the world has such a population explosion of homeless mixed breed pets. After all, the mixed breed seems to be the better choice from the trainer’s view point.

That being said there are certain instances where a mixed breed of dog is just not acceptable at all. If you are training animals for the purpose of professional dog showing competitions then by all means choose a pure bred animal. Train them for the specific purposes for which that breed was created. Also for certain usages, such as military animals, pure breeds seem to be the animal of choice solely for the purpose of a uniform appearance albeit a number of military animals just do not meet this qualification.

Aside from these, or similar circumstances, this author sees no reason to limit your search for a pet to strictly pure breed dogs. Rather, do something good for yourself and for the homeless pet population – adopt a mixed breed animal. Personally, I can say that after having several of both “types” of dogs I am now much more inclined to own “mutts” from here on out!

Families happily have a mixed breed pet. These animals have the ability to display intelligence, show care, obey commands and circumvent obstacles.

Scott Thomas and a team of five manage the program which was started in 2002. The center of operations is based at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio. Besides pure-bred labradors, labradors are also bred with Hungarian vizslas, resulting in a hybrid “vizslador” that has proven its worth at TSA. “The combination gives us the nose of a vizsla and the enthusiasm for play of a labrador retriever,” said Thomas.

The team have set a target of breeding at least 100 puppies annually. Each pup is named after one of the 9/11 victim.  Thomas admitted it was a daunting task “We spend every day trying to manage the economics, science and practicalities of breeding and developing dogs,” he said.

Puppies’ development is regularly assessed and training can begin at 12 months. Puppies are placed with families for human socialization as early as nine weeks.

Training is rigorous. Some may not pass a battery of tests, others may exhibit behavioral problems.

“Our main concern is that every one of these dogs, if they don’t work out for us, be placed in a good home,” said Thomas. Graduating dogs that TSA doesn’t select may become family pets or find careers with other law enforcement agencies or the U.S. military.

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Let’s have a look at digging. This is a normal part of a dogs behaviour, one that stretches back to when they were wolves and you will find that it is more engrained in some breeds than in others. The chief offender in this group has to be the Terrier Group and if you know where the name comes from then you’ll see why; it comes from the Latin for ‘put to earth.’ In the Terrier this really is very inbuilt behaviour and I know many who would suggest that the best way to deal with this problem is not to try and defeat it out right but to reach a compromise with the little fellow.

Space permitting you could provide an area where it is acceptable for your dog to dig away to its heart’s content. A good tip is to dig out a small rectangle of earth, say a half a spade deep fill it with sand and bury treats in the sand, that way you dog will soon learn that this is a good place to dig. If you do catch your dog digging in an area where you don’t want him to dig use the one command all the time. Another tip is to immediately lead the dog away from the area to the area where he is entitled to dig and throw a toy or treat into the digging pit. Once the dog starts digging in the correct area don’t for get to praise him. As in all matters of dog discipline there is no use chastising your dog after he has committed the offence. He just won’t know what you are on about!

If a dog is digging to create shelter from the cold, look at providing an insulated doghouse, or a pet door that is always accessible for getting in and out of the house. When the weather is hot, make sure adequate drinking water is always available to help your pet regulate their body heat. Digging is likely a shelter issue if you see them lying in the holes they have dug out. This is a natural behavior for dogs that comes from their days in the wild, so accommodate the behavior by removing the need for them to dig shelters in the first place. Provide a small wading pool for the dog to cool down in, or a special shaded area.

Boredom is another common reason for digging. Dogs need stimulation and activity, and will do what they can to entertain themselves if you do not provide adequate opportunities. Make sure your pet gets taken for walks regularly, arranging for someone else to take them if you are not available. Engage them in games, with a ball or Frisbee. AVOID aggressive games like tug of war or wrestling, which encourage chewing and biting.

While you shouldn’t spoil your dog with affection unless he behaves well, make sure you do give it enough attention so he doesn’t feel the need to engage in attention-seeking behaviors. If they do develop annoying or destructive habits, remember that even negative attention from you is still attention, and this may be what they are craving.

Therefore, prevent chewing before it becomes an issue simply by showing your dog some love, spending quality time with him, and exercising and mentally challenging him. Finally, remember to discipline him correctly. Physical or verbal punishment is rarely an effective strategy to stop your dog from digging, and should be avoided. Instead, make it clear what is and isn’t acceptable, and be consistent in reminding your dog of this.

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Your adult dog needs the right amount of balance in his training. These needs include a regular dose of physical exercise, mental exercise, and the need to socialize. Providing your dog with these needs will keep him happy, healthy, and may even add extra years to his life.

If you train your dog to do certain tasks then you give him purpose and that in turn will improve the quality of his life; again think about it the more purpose we have in our life the better our quality of life. By training your dog to listen, to respond properly to your commands you are giving him knowledge and freedom to do more with his life, it gives him the advantage to learn more and explore more. Don’t keep him inside the home all day by himself, take him out with you, give him stimulation, share as many activities as you can with him.

I suggested in a previous article that an adult dogs training should be ‘topped’ up about three times a week. This training schedual gives you the oppertunity to teach your dog someone new on a weekly or basis. The more he lears the more confident, the more stimulated and alert he will become. If you dog is able to figure things out in his adult life then when he reaches old age it will be of great help to him.

What if you have a dog who’s intelligence is above average, or who because of his breed is more energetic? Well you will have to work more with him, you will have to spend more time training him when he is young and when he becomes adult. Highly intelligent dogs need to have a job to do to keep them entertained, prevent them from becoming bored. It also steers them alway from developing anti-social destructive behaviors.

Extra training and mental activity is required if you have a working breed. Working breeds need to be worked more to keep them busy and problem-free. A few examples of working breeds are Border Collies, Great Danes, Australian Cattle Dogs, German Shepherds, Australian Shepherds, Rottweilers, and Old English Sheepdogs. These dogs need to think more and do more to stay happy.

Giving your adult dog his regular mental exercise will keep his mind clear, keep him occupied, and prevent boredom. Boredom leads to dissatisfaction, which in turn leads to negative behavior. Regardless of the amount of training and skills he acquired during puppyhood and his adolescent stage, he is likely to develop destructive behaviors again unless you give him a job to do.

The old adage “use it or lose it” not only applies to humans, but to our canine friends as well. Your dog needs to brush up on his skills and talents on a regular basis, otherwise he will forget them. It is that simple!

It might be tempting to think, ‘no more training,’ but that would be wrong. A good formula for keeping your dog’s body healthy in mind and body is to have two or three training sessions per week. We are not talking about intensive training here, nor are we talking about long drawn out sessions, we’re talking about ten to fifteen minutes, you don’t even have to teach him new things just go over the old faithfuls by having hime practise and improve the skills he already has.

There are several benefits to continue training your adult dog on a regular basis.

1. Regular training keeps his mind alert and active.
2. It keeps his body strong and in shape.
3. It serves as refresher courses to different commands and tricks that he had already acquired.
4. It keeps him aware of the rules that you have enforced for him.
5. It prevents boredom.
6. It develops great team work between you and him.
7. And best of all, it will deepen the bond that the two of you have together. If he remains active throughout the whole aspect of his life (physical, mental, social), then he will continue to play an active role in your life, be a team player, and be able to share wonderful times together.

As a pup your dogs physical needs may seem to have been never ending. However, once he has passed the adolescent stage and reaches adulthood you will begin to notice that his physical needs will not change significantly.

As an adult dog, the amount of exercise that his body requires will depend on his size, breed, and personality type. Continue with the regular walks and occasional runs. A game of ball should also be on your list, as well as swimming if your dog likes being in the water. If you have a large and/or energetic dog, you may have to do more than those listed above. If you have a small and/or less active dog, you will still need to give him exercise. You just have to tame it down, depending on his level of endurance.

About the Author
Dy Witt has shown, bred and trained standard poodles for 25 years. Her puppies’ manners and training were so impressive that their new vets and groomers sent word back that they had never worked on such well-adjusted dogs in their careers. To read more about her dog and puppy training techniques and her new ebook, visit: http://www.DogTraining15MinsADay.com

And like a winning team, there are certain characteristics that must be adhered to and provided by all members of the family, including your dog. Such examples of winning characteristics are disciplined structure, operation among everyone in your dog, and most important, respect between your dog’s “pack”. Without these items, there would be chaos and very little way in which your dog can recognize who is in charge and leading his team.

Dogs and puppies need this understanding of leadership and who is to play that role in order to be happy and feel a sense of belonging. Regardless of who is considered the leader in your family, it doesn’t matter to your dog, so long as there is one then your pet will be happy and feel a sense of security.

For those family households that have more than one member living inside the home, your dog will recognize a specific hierarchy that develops in time. For example, in my home I have my wife and my daughter that all coexist with the family pet. My dog recognizes his role as the bottom of the leadership chain, and he is quite happy with that. He understands that all of us play a more dominant role in the “pack” than he does. Because there is structure and he is trained to know who is in charge, even though there are multiple members of the family, his sense of security and well-being is guaranteed.

Most dog behavior problems stem from lack of rules and discipline in the house

At this point you have learned that all dogs need to have rules and boundaries firmly set in the household in order for them to be happy. It is the same way with children. Without mommy or daddy to set the rules and enforce those rules, kids typically end up with with an enormous amount of personal behavior problems.

If your dog does not recognize the family as a team and has no sense of who is in charge, his behavior problems can be a nightmare. It is your job to start creating a social order in your house immediately. You must learn to communicate with your dog by reading his body language and picking up on his sense of who’s in charge.

And the job will be a lot easier if you can get all members of your family on the same playing field. They must all agree with how your dog should be treated. This will help tremendously so that your time is not wasted as you work hard to create a pack within the family, which will help your dog become a happy, well-trained family pet.

When faced with this situation, what you do? If you run to your puppy to sooth and caress him every time he cries, then you are only feeding the behavior and creating a spoiled dog. On the other hand, if you ignore him and let him bark his brains out, the rest of the family (especially your spouse) will become very annoyed with you for letting the barking go on.

It’s like being stuck between a rock and a hard place, however, we do have some tips to help you deal with your puppy barking situation:

1. The first step is to try to ignore your puppy’s barking if at all possible without yelling at him. Yelling will either scare him from wanting to come near you or will further add to his anxiety levels that and he will continue barking.

2. There is a product called a “teaching lead” which will enable your puppy to be around you at all times in the house. Use these types of tools so that your puppy can be around you while he is getting used to his independence.

3. When you leave the house, try to refrain from long and drawn out departures. Although it’s understandable to want to pet your puppy and talk sweet to her before leaving the house, it only creates more stress because she will start to associate your behavior with you leaving her side. The same advice goes when you arrive home. Avoid big and exciting welcomes after walking through the door.

4. Try using a simple training aid to get your puppy to quiet down immediately when she is barking. A water bottle that sends a quick burst of streaming spray is a perfect idea. Or you could use a small tin can filled with a few pennies in it. When you go to leave her side and she starts barking, simply throw that can in her area. It will create a startling noise while at the same time diverting her attention.

Fortunately there are ways in which you can help diminish your puppy’s digging behavior so that it is less destructive to your belongings while at the same time giving him a place to dig without being punished for it.

Below are a set of instructions that will help you train your dog not to dig and claw in areas that you do not want him to, as well as creating a place of his own where he is free to dig at his heart’s content

1. The first thing you need to do is find one area that your puppy is allowed to dig in as much as he wants to. This could be somewhere in your house, in a nearby park, or better yet, in your backyard if you have the luxury of owning the property.

2. Make it fun for your puppy to dig by burying some of his toys and bones underneath the dirt. Now play with your dog and start digging with him so you can both play the game of looking for his toys while digging. It becomes a lot of fun to watch your puppy dig along with you in search of his hidden treasure.

3. Every day, go back to your dog’s digging area and instruct him to start digging by giving him a command. This command could be as simple as “Sparky, Go Dig!” After a while he will immediately begin clawing at the dirt in wild anticipation for the fun that lay ahead.

4. If you see your puppy digging in any area other than his digging spot, be sure to correct him with a firm “NO!” And then guide him to his proper digging location. This is the same protocol that you would use when housebreaking a puppy after he makes a mess in the house. Eventually, your dog will seek out his digging area when he feels the urge to dig away.