The Dog Training

It takes quite some time to train a dog regardless of whether it is an older dog or puppy. If you want to know how to train your dog, then the first commands that you should teach are stay, sit, come, lie down, and No. You must start with sit-stay-come-lie down in that order. Most dogs learn the “No” command with house-breaking, but it requires a lot of reinforcement. You must be very consistent, committed, and train your dog at least daily for thirty minutes and ensure that you give it some little time to play after the training sessions.

To train a dog how to sit, requires some dog treats, a six foot lead, and patting the dog gently on the rear as you say the sit command. If the dog sits, pamper him/her with some treats. Then proceed to walk a couple more feet with your dog, redo the command, press the rear, and give another reward. You must keep doing this on a daily basis until it masters the command.

Once the dog knows how to sit, the next command is stay. You proceed by using the same lead and tell the dog to sit. Once the dog is sitting, you can give the dog a reward and say good girl or boy. Next, put your hand on the stop position of the lead, ask the dog to stay, and walk gradually back say four feet as you hold the lead. Give two minutes and walk back to the dog and shower with some praise and a reward. Do this several times on a daily basis and increase the amount feet between you and the dog each time. After one week, drop the lead and command the dog to stay as you walk at least thirty feet away from the dog and out of sight.

After the dog learns how to stay, then teach him the come command; to do this, just use the lead and ask the dog to sit and stay. Then try walking a couple feet away and ask the dog to come as you gently pull the lead. If the dog comes to you, give a reward and repeat this command as you increase the walking distance to around forty feet.

The easiest command to teach a dog is the “No” command. Every time the dog does something wrong, point at the dog and say No. Most dogs are familiar with this command though some may not really understand it. To understand this command better, most dogs learn by house-breaking.

To make the dog lie down, just tell it to sit, and then lie down as you place your hand on the ground or floor in front of the dog. If he or she learns, then give a reward. This is also an easy command and can be learnt alongside the stay command.

You should never shout at the dog while you are training and always be consistent with the word you use when giving commands. Keep repeating the commands as the dog gets older in age, as they may forget and start disobeying.

Finally, remember that there are some breeds that take longer than others to learn; so be patient.

So… do you want to get more Free tips and learn more on how to really train your dog?

Dog owners will need to take their dogs out for walks on a nearly daily basis. A collar will work for most dogs, but others will need to wear a harness to be kept under control. A harness is a good option if your dog is quite adept at getting out of his collar.

Before you buy a dog training harness, you will need to know the size of your dog. Don’t just guess since it’s vital that the harness be sized correctly. You should take measurements of your dog’s chest and neck in order to ensure that you get the right size. If the harness is too loose, it will slide around easily. However, you wouldn’t want it to be too tight either. You should be able to fit one or two fingers beneath the webbing.

Some dogs won’t be very willing to wear a harness. Don’t force them to do so. Try to get your dog used to the harness calmly. Having a few treats around will help. Once he gets inside the harness, reward him with one or two treats.

A dog training harness can be made of various materials. Two of the most common include leather and nylon. If you ever plan on taking your dog out in wet weather, then it’s best that you have a nylon harness on hand. You should already have a good idea what happens to leather whenever it gets wet.

There is a way that you can avoid this problem though. You can use leather conditioner on your harness over a period of time. This would allow you to get it wet long enough for your dog to wear it during wet weather.

In addition to different material choices, you will also have to make a decision on the type of metal fitting to get. Nickel-plated fittings are a good option because they’re strong and durable. You will also like the fact that they’re less expensive than your other options.

Brass fittings are a good choice when it comes to getting a dog training harness too. Much like nickel-plated fittings, brass offers plenty of strength and durability too. It will also help avoid any problems with dogs that have sensitive skin or allergies. The only downside of brass fittings is that they’re more expensive.

When you get a dog training harness, you will need to consider the comfort of your dog. If it’s uncomfortable for him to wear, then he will obviously have a problem with it. Getting a padded harness can help as long as you’re willing to pay a little bit extra for one.

Some dog harnesses also have a handle on top of them. Having a handle on top will provide you with something that you can use to handle or control the dog. Be prepared to pay a little extra for this feature too.

Buying a dog training harness is a good idea if your dog doesn’t behave very well on a typical leash and collar combination. Get the best harness that you can afford, making sure that it fits well and is relatively comfortable for your dog to wear.

The price you pay for a German shepherd depends on a many factors including the quality of the breeder, the bloodlines, parent’s titles and certifications, guarantees etc. Prices can range anywhere from $50 all the way up to $85,000. Let’s take a look at our options;

$50 – $60 – Rescue Dogs

The first and least expensive option is to seek out one from the local rescue shelter. This is of course a very admirable way to go; there are many great dogs that need a loving home. However, one disadvantage to this is they are not able to guarantee personality or bloodline. You very well could be bringing home a dog that could have a history unknown even to the shelter.

$150 – $500 – Out of the paper / Back yard breeders

You can get one out of the Paper or from a back yard breeder (BYB) for roughly $150 – $500. When using this option, be very careful and do your research. Try and find out as much as you can about the dog and its parents. Watch closely to see it interacts with other dogs, children and strangers. Expect the seller to know very little about the dog’s history or genetic defects. Most in this range either offer a limited health guarantee or none at all.

$600 – $850 – Professional Qualified Breeders

This, in my opinion is the best option in terms of price and quality. When purchasing from a professional breeder, you can expect to have a health certificate and guarantee. TIP: Ask if the puppy is either AKC registered or OFA certified. Some breeders might not have either, but the best case scenario is to have one or the other.

American Kennel Club puppies will have family charts that show who their parents and ancestors were for several generations. A qualified breeder will have a copy of this family tree for you to view. With an AKC certification you can clearly see what type and quality of bloodline the pup came from.

The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) certification maintains medical records on registered canines. They issue a rating based on x-rays of the dog’s bone structure. German shepherds, being large working class dogs are prone to hip dysplasia. This genetic predisposition passes on to subsequent litters and dogs that present with dysplasia should not be bred.

$1,200 – $1,800 – More guarantees, more money

Paying a little more money, can give you a little more piece of mind. This price range I would still consider affordable for a family pet and if you have the money, I would certainly suggest it. In this range you can expect; personality and intelligence written guarantees, x-rayed dysplasia free hips with a guarantee, either AKC registered or OFA certified and in some cases a lifetime of breeder support. Having these guarantees and more of a piece of mind can potentially save you lots of money and heartache in the future.

$2,500 – $5,000 – Show dogs/breeding dogs

German shepherds to either show or breed with, having at least a “G” (good) conformation rating. They are Pure breed AKC German Shepherds with German bloodlines from a professional breeder. These breeders stand by their dogs and give Lifetime Support.

$25,000 – $85,000 – Trained protection and guard dogs

Top of the line, highly trained protection dogs and guard dogs. They only use from European Working line bloodline, hand selected to protect your family and property. Wouldn’t this be nice if we could afford it!

Buying and choosing a dog is an extremely important decision and one not to be taken lightly. Make sure your whole family are on board. Remember, to budget appropriately and that much of the cost of owning a dog occurs in the first year (fencing, food, toys, and obedience classes). Most importantly do your homework and buy from a good breeder.

The condition of a dog’s coat is often an indicator of their general wellbeing, and a thin, dry or scruffy coat can be the first physical sign of poor health. Ensuring your dog maintains a healthy coat is particularly important during the winter, when they need their thick, strong coat to help them cope with the cold.

There are a number of ways you can look after your dog’s coat, and this article will explore some of the best treatments and methods to use.

A dog’s diet can have a major influence on the health of their coat. While it’s true that dogs, with their wild scavenger instincts, are able to eat just about anything, it is always best to stick to a diet that gives them a good balance of nutrients to keep them in the best shape possible. There is a huge amount of information online and in books on dietary requirements for different dog breeds, and your vet will also be able to offer you some good advice on this subject.

Exercise is also crucial to keeping your dog healthy and ensuring their coat stays in good condition. Dogs that are stressed or bored are prone to scratch or chew themselves, so it is important that they have the opportunity to burn of their excess energy. Make sure they get out the house frequently and have a regular exercise regime, and leave some chewy toys around to keep them occupied when they are at home.

Another important part of maintaining your dog’s coat, and one which can often be neglected, is grooming. A good idea is to bathe your dog with a herbal shampoo designed specifically for dogs. A shampoo containing Pennyroyal extract (Mentha Pulegium) is ideal because it will leave the coat clean and will also repel fleas and mites. Remember never to use human shampoo because the PH of a dog’s skin will be different to ours. Brushing your dog will also be a major help, as this will remove dead skin and distribute the natural oils in his fur.

There are a number of herbal supplements and treatments that can be given to dogs as part of their daily diet, and the choice of which one you should use will depend on the type of dog you have. Kelp seaweed is a good treatment for dogs experiencing poor hair growth, and though it should be used sparingly in the summer, it is ideal to give during the winter months to improve coat growth. Evening primrose oil is another good herbal supplement that can be added to food, and will help to reduce shedding and promote a long healthy coat.

In summary, any signs of a dry, scruffy or patchy coat need to be treated with concern, as they may be symptomatic of broader health problems your dog is experiencing. A good exercise regime, regular grooming and balanced diet should generally be enough to keep your dog’s coat thick and silky, and herbal supplements can also be very helpful in this regard.