If your dog[puppy] misbehaves[doesn't behave] all the time your relationship with the dog will turn sour sooner or later. That is why puppy obedience training is so important. Otherwise, your dog might become a real troublemaker later on. Some dogs are constantly biting people and chewing things, barking loudly all the time, dirtying the house, breaking their leashes and digging up the lawn. Naturally, the owner will get up fed up with the dog.

Puppy obedience training will probably not turn your dog into a little canine angel. However, you will be able to control it when you want to, if you train it properly. You could turn to a dog trainer for help but nowadays you can find all the information that you need through various books, DVDs and articles on the internet. You can do puppy obedience training on your own. However, if you are impatient and short-tempered you will first have to train yourself to be patient!

There are various things that you need to teach your dog. Some are things you want it to do and others are things you don’t want it to do. Puppy obedience training involves potty, leash, crate and house training. You also need to teach your dog some basic commands. Don’t think of the task as a hard, boring thing. You can have fun with your dog while training it. Puppy obedience training could involve training a lot of tricks. Children might be even better than some adults at teaching tricks to their puppies.

When your puppy misbehaves let it be known that you are not happy with the behavior. For example, don’t move when your puppy pulls at the leash when you take it out on a walk. Obedience puppy training has a lot to do with standing your ground. You must also reward good behavior. You may have seen trainers giving biscuits to puppies after they complete various tricks.

Your relationship with your dog should not be one based on fear. This type of puppy obedience training is very wrong. The puppy should obey you because it understands your intentions and not because it is scared of you. Don’t be too harsh on the puppy especially, when it is very young.

You might see your puppy chewing your slippers despite continuous puppy obedience training. In such an instance get your puppy something to chew so that it will leave your slippers alone. You need to be tactful and kind in order to build up a good relationship with your puppy. Without this any puppy obedience training would probably end up a failure.

Start training your puppy as early as possible. Time constraints might obstruct puppy obedience training but try to find as much time as possible. The job will get harder and harder, later and later on. Always keep this in mind.

Proper puppy obedience training would leave both you are your dog happy.

Resources:

Puppy House Training Guide

A biting dog is maybe one of the more serious behaviour problems, especially now that the laws are tightened and any dog that bites someone is more than likely to get put down. Teaching your dog not to bite is one of the most important teachings you can give him. This is where you have to be firm and stick to your guns.

When playing with a young dog they will automatically nip and gnaw at your hand this is because when dogs play together they play with their mouths. When teaching your dog not to bite stroke him with one hand while offering something which is acceptable to be bitten with the other hand, something like a chew toy or a raw hide treat.

Your dog will soon realise that hands aren’t there for biting. This process has to be done repeatedly for it to take effect.

If you teach your dog bite inhibition from a young age, you can prevent much more serious problems from developing later on.

Let your dog know in no uncertain terms that biting is not considered enjoyable or acceptable.

Question on dog psychology courses from Norma Jean:

Q: I am very interested in Canine Behaviour Psychology. I was all set to study this course in the UK but just realized recently that the College that I was going too study through recently too stop providing Canine Behaviour Psychology.

I was really disappointed to have found out about this information as I was planning to study this course in November this year.

I would like to know for those that have already studied Canine Behaviour Psychology in the UK, what College/University do you highly recommend that is excellent to studying this course in the UK.

As I have a full time job, I will need for find a correspondence distance college where I can study in my own time provided.

I am aware that employment as a Canine Behaviourist in the UK is not in demand as it is in the US but I would still like to study this course and use my skill and experience after completion abroad, perhaps in Europe, Australia or US in the future.

I look forward in getting a response from those that have the same passion for Canine Behaviour Psychology.

Thank you

Thank you for question Norma. The first couple of resources you should look at are:

http://www.apbc.org.uk/training_courses.htm
http://www.apbc.org.uk/career.htm

and you may get some insight and value from this one too:

http://www.bishopburton.ac.uk/index....seId=446&mode=

Residential Dog Psychology Courses vs Distance Learning Dog Psychology Courses

Learning canine psychology via a course - be it residential or distance learning - is more (or at least should be) grounded in the scientific elements of what we have learned about the way the dog's mind works. Dog psychology and dog training are, as I'm sure you appreciate, very different disciplines.

It is more than possible that a person may take a dog psychology course and be inept as a dog trainer, where a fantastically skilled dog trainer may have little to no academic understanding of dog psychology.

As is very often the case, you can glean so much information on a subject like this by browsing the scientific journals and searching for the latest University studies in the field of dog psychology.

Some links on canine psychology that can give some reading inspiration:

Canine Genetics (PDF)

Solo takes a double dose of Xanax (alprazolam) for his nerves during the 4 July festivities in the United States. That is in addition to the antidepressant, fluoxetine or amitriptyline, that the 11-year-old border collie takes year-round. Fireworks just set him off, as do thunderclaps, gunshots — practically any explosive sounds — sending him into nervous fits. Panting and drooling with eyes dilated, he desperately searches for a place to hide. If another dog is nearby, he might attack. "It's called anxiety redirection," says Melanie Chang, Solo's owner and an evolutionary biologist at the University of Oregon in Eugene.

Dogs Can Smell Cancer in Human Breath (National Geographic)

This is a guest contribution to K9Guru.co.uk.

Although there has been much controversy around dog whispering techniques and infamous dog whisperer Cesar Milan, not everything he has to say is wrong. Using aggressive tactics to train your puppy or dog may lead to your dog being afraid of you and striking out at more vulnerable targets like children and smaller animals, or your dog will simply become aggressive in response to your aggression. This cycle is not only vicious but it can be dangers for you and those around you.

But let's talk about where dog whisperers have it right.

Calm, Cool & Collected - One secret that all dog whisperers swear by is controlling your personal reactions to bad behavior. When your pup does something bad, or disobeys a command your first reaction may be to get angry and scream. It won't help, and it won't stop the pup from repeating the behavior in the future. Instead, dog whisperers recommend remaining calm yet forceful. There's no need to yell and contort your face to get your point across, besides it's a dog and only understands basic commands. Furthermore, you risk initiating aggression in the dog.

Put the Fire Out Quickly - Most dog whisperers agree that continuous training is the best way to keep your puppy or dog well behaved. Dogs make mistakes, they forget and when they do it is your job as the authority figure to help them correct those mistakes. Like humans, dog will test limits to see what they can get away with as they feel more comfortable—and to keep you on your toes—so don't allow him to get away with that bad behavior.

Assert Your Dominance - Although many dog whisperers incorrectly apply the wolf pack theory to dogs, one exercise they emphasize has proven effective. Even if your dog responds to some commands and generally does as you say, he probably exerts his dominance when you take a walk. More often than not, it is the dog taking his owner for a walk, letting the world know he's only docile because he chooses to be.

Dog whisperers say that you should allow your dog to walk beside you or behind you, but never ahead of you. Allowing your dog to walk ahead of you isn't just about chest thumping; he won't be able to follow your cues if he can't see them. Practice walking around your neighborhood, stopping and starting every few steps until your dog mimics your steps. When he stops, reward him. Repeat this every day, each time walking longer before stopping.

Pay Attention to Your Dog - One thing that every dog whisperer I spoke with emphasized was that their success was about understanding dogs and dog psychology. Unlike a dog whisperer, you only need to understand your dog and his ways. Remember that while all dogs share many common characteristics, each dog will develop unique to their environment. The best thing you can do for your pup or dog is pay attention to them as you would your children. Many behaviors can be avoided or corrected with a little quality time and training. Additionally many physical problems can be avoided by simply noticing a change in your dog's gait or breathing.

Don't expect your heeling exercises to work smoothly right away or even all the time. Even dogs have good days and bad days. If your dog is having a bad day, he may still execute a near perfect “Sit, Stay.” But he may be too distracted to heel well. That doesn't mean you shouldn't practice. But you might want to cut your practice short this time. Be sure to end on a positive note by doing something your dog will do well even on his bad days. Lessons should end sweetly so that both of you will want to get back to work again the next day.

Of course, if your dog is having a bad day every day, there's something wrong in your training program. How do you train your dog? Are you clear with your instructions? Are you patient, or do you shrug your shoulders and quit in the middle? Are you fair, swift, and forgiving? Are you working long enough? You should practice for at least half an hour a day. Practice ten minutes on your dog's morning walk after he has relieved himself and twenty minutes on his evening walk.

Once a week or so, work for forty-five minutes or an hour at one shot. Even a five month old puppy can handle it if given a rest in the middle. Ask yourself if your expectations are high enough. Your dog can read your attitude, and he can fulfill it, too. He is not dumb. He can learn to work beautifully, no matter what his breed. It's only a matter of time until he heels well. Be patient and keep working.

If you have passed the above criteria and your dog is still having seven bad days a week, perhaps you are not attentive when you train. Your dog will know this, too, and if you don't pay attention to his work, he won't pay attention to it either. Why should he? But if you do give him thirty minutes a day of your full attention, you'll end up with a well-trained dog.

When you are out working and teaching your dog the virtues of heeling, sprinkle in all his other commands as well. It will give the work variety. It will teach your dog to make smooth transitions between commands, that which will make him look like an intelligent, working creature. This magic usually happens about five weeks along in the training. That's the time when many dogs seem to understand the larger picture, when things click. However, your dog may get the point in four weeks - or in eight.

Don't worry about it. Just enjoy it when you see it happen. At that point, when he's attentive without reminders, when he'll heel with few corrections, when he sits automatically whenever you stop, when he executes his commands on verbal cue without additional manipulation, continue to practice, occasionally pushing the time so that he learns to work for a longer period without a break. Also, intersperse play with your training. And, when you're safely indoors and at home, begin some of his off leash puppy work. By now, he's coming along so well that nothing could stop you!

When teaching your dog to heel, you'll probably have to start outdoors. Even if you have a small dog and lots of space indoors, heeling is a pretty silly thing to do inside. And most dogs can see that this is so. There's no reason why you can't start out in a fairly quiet outdoor spot and, as your dog catches on, gradually begin to work him around distractions.

Start with a “Sit, Stay.” Call your dog to your left side, guiding him with his leash, and say “Sit.” This is the heel position: the dog is sitting at your left side, facing straight ahead, his head and shoulders even with your hip. You are both now ready to begin. But first, check and make sure your dog is sitting straight. If he is not, when you start to walk forward, he will either cross in front of you and trip you, or, if he is pointed away from you, he may not even notice that you have started without him.

Having him sit straight inspires him to pay attention. So if he sits crooked, take the time to straighten him each and every time you practice the heel. This means he is facing the same way you are so that when you begin to walk, you and your dog will be parallel. In addition, since the dog is naturally attuned to body language, you are going to cue him by beginning to walk on your left leg, the leg closest to him. You will also move your left leg last, taking a full step with the right and closing up with the left.

In this way, the dog will not only follow the word “Heel,” but he will follow your left leg, the one he can see better since it is closer to him. To reinforce this, from now on when you leave
your dog on a “Stay,” leave by moving your right leg first. In this case, since the dog will not be with you, it does not matter which leg you move last when you stop. So when your dog is moving along with you, start and stop on the left leg and when your dog is remaining behind, leave him there moving your right leg first.

With your left leg, walk forward, say his name, then “Heel.” Walk at a nice, brisk pace. If he remains seated or lags, tug and release with the leash, repeating the command “Heel.” If he forges ahead, jerk him back and then release the leash, saying “Heel” or “No, Heel!” as you make the correction. Save his name for positive reenforcement. Do not work with a tight leash, forcing the dog to remain at your side. It is better to jerk and release. If you force him to stay in the heel position, he will never learn to assume it on his own on a loose leash.

When correcting him, jerk the leash so that you actually move your dog's front feet back to the place they should be. Do not merely tug away at his neck. This is merely annoying without being constructive; it does not tell the dog where he should walk. As you correct, also sweeten the work by patting your left leg, talking to him, praising him for each and every step taken without the need for a correction.

When you stop, make sure you move your left leg last and your dog must sit. Say “Sit.” Praise him when he does. This sit is supposed to be automatic. By the end of your first week of daily practice, your dog should start to sit without being reminded whenever you stop walking. Always praise him for doing so by saying “Good Dog” in your warmest voice and leaning down and hugging him against your leg. You do this by swinging your arm around his left side and back onto his chest. Hugging him against your leg reinforces the heel position as well as the automatic sit, which inspired the hug in the first place.

What are we trying to accomplish when we correct a dog? Do we want to make the dog submissive to us? Are we trying to show the dog that we're displeased with his behavior? Do we want the dog to feel guilty or ashamed over what he has done or how he is behaving? I think not. When we strip away all of the emotional considerations involved in any incident where we feel the dog deserves a correction, whether it be anger, disappointment, a sense of betrayal, or embarrassment, we want him to stop doing something that isn't appropriate. The owner wants the dog to settle down.

Unfortunately, this kind of thinking, while justifiable in most cases, simply won't work because dogs can't learn not to do things; they can only learn to do things. Now, I'm not suggesting that a dog can't learn to be still; my point is that a dog can learn to be still only by learning how to be calm. So, while we may think that we want inaction from our dog to accomplish our aim of settling the dog down, we really need action.

What gets dogs into trouble with their human companions are the canine's natural tendencies and inclinations, their wild instincts. These instincts would be completely appropriate and normal if the dog were living in the wild, and so it is to be expected that dogs become excited at the arrival of strangers or at the return of their owners. It is natural behavior for a dog to be destructive when left alone, or to pull rambunctiously when walked on a lead. When dogs do these things the problem isn't that our pets are acting abnormally and that we're bad dog owners: These behaviors are inborn traits.

The real problem is how we perceive a dog's behavior and then how that perception influences the way we present training problems to our dogs. Rather than saying to the dog, "Don't pull on your lead," we need to speak in terms of an instinctual message: "Be attracted to me even though there are powerful distractions about." Rather than commanding a dog not to jump on strangers, we need to train him how to make contact with strangers. We can't tell a dog not to bark, or to cease being a pest, but we can train him to have an unswerving focus on an objective.

Through such a focus, a dog can be commanded to settle down. Ultimately, the dog can develop so much patience that whenever he wants something, calmness rather than nervousness will be his habit for success. If we analyze what we're trying to accomplish in those everyday situations that require manners from our dog, we'll find that we actually want to train our dog to do things.