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Beginner Tips For Dog Training

1. What age should I start using the prong collar?

[Adam replies: ] Generally speaking, at about four months of age… when you see the adult teeth begin to come in.

2. What should I be teaching, obedience wise, with 8 month puppy?

[Adam replies: ] At eight months of age, there really isn’t ANYTHING you can’t teach the dog, obedience-wise.

3. When you say pop, when teaching the down command,do you mean I should pop the prong collar? So for example if the dog gets up from down/stay position and walk away, you said to say NO, pop the leash, then say
NO all the way back to manhole, then pop the leash again? Do you mean to pop the prong or to guide him
into down/stay position?

[Adam replies: ] When I say “pop” I mean to tug on the leash. Make sure you’re starting and ending with slack. So, you say, “No!” then go to the dog and give a pop on the leash, then walk him back to the spot and reissue the “down” command… and then “pop” downward (or to the side) on the leash and put him back into the down position.

5. What’s the difference between obedience training and sport training (i.e. Schutzhund)? Why do they say you shouldn’t train your dog in obedience if you want him to be in Schutzhund? (I just want to know for my own knowledge)

[Adam replies: ] Schutzhund is a dog sport the incorporates an obedience routine, as well as a protection and tracking routine. The obedience exercises are mostly route exercises, and are not trained in a street-smart context. As for why you supposedly shouldn’t train your dog in obedience if you want him to be in Schutzhund… this is a myth. Some macho types will consistently over-correct their dog in the obedience phase… and this will kill drive. But anyone with even a shred of common sense will avoid this predicament.

6. What do you think of raw diets for dogs? Worth it??

[Adam replies: ] Not worth it. Feed the dog a high quality dog food and your dog will be fine.

7. What order should I teach the dog the commands?(first sit, then down then come?? How should I do it?)

[Adam replies: ] I like to teach the “Walk on a loose leash” exercise first, followed by the curb/street/boundary training, as this teaches the dog what a correction is (if he doesn’t know already). Then you can teach exercises in any order you wish. To be honest, the order of basic exercises is largely irrelevant. It DOES become relevant in later training, when you begin chaining behaviors together, such as “Go to the fridge, open door, retrieve beer, then close door.”

8. To teach the dog to not run out of the house, when I slam the door I’m afraid it is going slam on him too hard and hurt him. How do I go about doing it? Do I shut it softly or will he be fast enough to stop?

[Adam replies: ] You’re thinking too much. Just slam the door shut. Assuming it’s not a toy breed, it’s not going to kill him. If it is a toy breed, keep your hand on the door and guide it shut. The idea is that the door slams on the dog… not to injure the dog, but to be uncomfortable so that he waits and watches you for the “release“ command before walking through. You are the alpha dog. You walk through first. It is your job to make sure it‘s safe for him to leave the property, and he needs to look to you for the “It‘s Okay“ cue. If you don’t give the “A-okay” cue… then bad things could happen. Like the door suddenly slamming shut. Ever sit on a dirty chair and ruin a clean pair of slacks? Once it happens to you, you’ll always check first. It’s the same concept with the dog.

To read more of my dog training ramblings, read about my book (click below): http://tinyurl.com/4efaq
Secrets of a Professional Dog Trainer!

About the Author

Author, “Secrets of a Professional Dog Trainer!“ which you can read more about at:
http://tinyurl.com/4efaq

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Posted by John Hocking - 4/27/2006 at 10:13 am

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If you have a new dog or puppy, you may be interested in getting some basic dog training. Dog training can be taught by an obedience instructor, or you can do the dog training yourself.

The most important things in dog training are consistency, keeping dog’s attention and understanding your dog.

To get the respect of your dog you must be consistent. You should make a set of do’s and don’ts for your dog. Follow these guidelines to the letter, if a dog does something desirable always reward it, if a dog does something bad punish him or her appropriately. In dogs world consistency is a sign of a leader. You will make your training my easier and effective by being a leader who the dog respects and follows.

Ninety percent of your dogs training will be getting his or hers attention and keeping him focused on yourself. If your dog cannot focus on you, it will not listen to you, and thus making the commands you give fall on empty ears. I will describe a technique on how to get and keep your dog’s attention with few very simple exercises. First, most dogs will respond to their name, so call them and when they look at you tell them “watch”. After doing it few times the dog will associate the command with looking at you. After you have perfected the “watch” command, start doing exercises aimed at expanding your dog’s attention span. A good technique is to hold a treat with your teeth and while standing in front of your dog give it a watch command. Stand in position for a few seconds keeping dogs attention, then praise. Repeat the exercise until your dog focus on you for about a minute. The more attention your dog can give you the better student it will be.

A vital part of dog training is the understanding of how a dog thinks. Dogs, like small children, have a very short attention span. Most dogs can be focused on training for about ten to twenty minutes, after that time they will start loosing focus and will require a small break. A good idea is to make regular training sessions of 20-30 minutes per day. Another important thing is to make the training fun for the dog. Make the dog look forward to the training time instead of dreading it. To achieve this you should always make their effort worthwhile. After every successful command make sure to give them a treat or praise them with very excited voice. The more willing the dog is to train the more effective the training will be!

Incorporate these techniques into your training sessions and in no-time you will be ready to proceed to much more complex obedience training exercises. You and your dog will both enjoy the time spent together, your dog will respect you for being a responsible owner and other people will appreciate your dog’s great behavior after you are done!

Dmitry Belov is founder of Dnepr Import. Visit their site at: Dog Training

About the author:

Dmitry Belov is a dog trainer that has most of the his experience with large live stock protection breeds.

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Posted by John Hocking -  at 10:12 am

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Basic Dog Training

If you have a new dog or puppy, you may be interested in getting some basic dog training. Dog training can be taught by an obedience instructor, or you can do the dog training yourself.

Dog training with an obedience instructor can vary in price and it usually takes place in a class. If you do the dog training yourself, it is usually free and you can do it from your own home. If you do choose to do the dog training yourself, it is best to get educated on dog training.

There are 3 basic things your dog should learn through basic dog training. These are: sit, stay, and come. The first part of dog training is to teach your dog to sit. To start this dog training, you will first need some dog treats.

Do this dog training in a quiet environment so your dog doesn’t get distracted. Tell your dog to sit repeatedly as you hold the dog treat just over their head. This way the dog has to look up and may sit on there own to reach the treat.

If not, gently push there rear down. When they sit, praise them and reward them with a treat. This kind of dog training works because the dog constantly hears “sit” and will learn to associate the command with sitting and receiving praise.

The next part of dog training is to teach your dog to stay. This is often a difficult part of dog training. This kind of dog training is also incorporated with teaching your dog the command “come.” Sit your dog in an area with no directions.

Tell your dog to stay repeatedly as you back away. Start out by keeping eye contact with the dog. If the dog gets up, tell it “no” and start again. Remember this dog training takes a while. You may need someone to sit with the dog to help reinforce the dog to stay the first few times.

Once you have made progress with this dog training, you then start by walking away with your back turned. Dogs will often get up to follow you at this point. Tell your dog “no” and start the dog training again by repeatedly telling your dog to stay as you walk away.

Once your dog has mastered this part, you can teach it to come. After your dog has stayed, tell it to “come.” Have a happy voice and pat your knee as you say “come.” Your dog should respond to this dog training right away and you may then reward it.

Always use praise instead of punishment with dog training. Dogs respond best to positive dog training, rather than negative. With all of this in mind, you should be able to teach your dog the 3 basis commands.

Follow all of this advice and you should soon have a more obedient dog that is worth everyone’s praise!
About the Author

Amy Howells is an expert dog trainer who runs a website dedicated to teaching people how to train their dog or puppy in just 21 days. Visit http://www.dog-owner.net/training.htm for more info.

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Posted by John Hocking -  at 10:10 am

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Barking dogs – positive training

Some dogs often get out of control as far as their noise levels are concerned, and their owners realize that some barking dog training is in order. Of course, you have to understand that barking is a natural way for the puppy or dog to communicate, both with you and with other dogs. Here are a few things to do and things to avoid while training your dog:

Do this as part of a barking dog training program

ü When the dog is locked up in a confined space (such as a dog crate), whining and barking will be more frequent. Try to avoid keeping the dog locked up as such if possible and try to educate him, from puppy stage, that barking for hours won’t solve the problem. ü Dogs are social animals – their barking is a call to socialization on many occasions. Barking dog training programs should focus on teaching the dog to deal with isolation and to eliminate separation anxiety as much as possible. ü There are other reasons for excessive barking – the dog is hungry, thirsty, sick, uncomfortable or feels threatened. ü Create the best conditions for your dog and if he still barks continuously say NO on a firm voice – do this every time he starts barking and keeps going for more than half a minute

Here’s what barking dog training shouldn’t include

· Never give rewards to the dog when baking. · Never let your dog soil his or her crate · Never show aggression towards the dog while he is barking. A positive approach to barking dog training will take a little longer to achieve success but it also offers long term results.

Positive dog training

The most frequently asked question regarding positive dog training sounds something like this: “How do I manage to know the dog that I am the Alpha leader but also create a strong emotional bond between the two of us?” The idea behind all positive dog training methods is that offering praise for a successful command is more effective than offering punishment for a poor response to a command. The dog sees you as the leader of the “pack” because you are the one who provides food and shelter – you should teach the dog to respect you, and the protection you offer him, by praising the dog, both with a treat and a vocal remark, every time he or she responds well to your commands.

Expert Dog Training

More resources from this author are available below: * Paper Shredder Expert * Vending Machine Expert * Platinum Design – Free graphic and web design resources

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Posted by John Hocking - 4/26/2006 at 9:53 pm

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Are You Making These Mistakes When Training Your Dog?

There are common mistakes you can make while traing your dog. Ways you can make things better for yourself and the dog.


If you are training your dog yourself, are you sure you are not making these mistakes:

  • Confusing the dog by using different words for the same command. For example if you say down, you can’t expect the dog to sit down.
  • Rubbing his nose in his urine will just give him a sore nose, but won’t stop him from weeing on your carpet again.
  • Smacking the dog won’t help at all so Expert Dog Trainers have found.
  • Also raising your voice will confuse the dog. When giving the dog a command, it is the tone of your voice that tells him what he is supposed to do.
  • Don’t let the dog eat at the same time as you do. This will give him the idea that he is your equal. Feed him before or after you have eaten. This will let the dog know that you are his master.
  • Keep training sessions to about 15 minutes, otherwise the dog will lose interest and be bored. Remember dogs have a very short attention span.
  • It’s easier to train a young dog than an older one. An older one can be trained but it may take longer, plus a lot of patience on your part.
  • If you have to take your dog from one place to another, make sure the crate or whatever you use to put the dog into while travelling is the right size. If it is too big the dog feels insecure and is very uncomfortable. Again if it is too small the dog will be cramped and uncomfortable. 
  • Don’t train the dog if you are in a bad mood. The tone of your voice will be different and the dog won’t be able to understand what is expected of him. 
  • If the dog does what you ask him to do, be sure to praise him lavishly.

The thing to bear in mind is that your dog normally wants to please you. There are bad dogs, just like there are bad humans, but he loves you, no matter how you treat him. He may be frightened of you, but that’s not what you want is it?So when training your dogx Are You Making These Mistakes When Training Your Dog?, be patient and consistent. Eventually he will understand what you expect of him and then you will have a dog to be proud of.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Eva Moffat a 66-year-old disabled lady living in Manchester England has been awarded Expert Author for many articles she has written and had published, is now turning her hand to writing about our dumb friends.To see some of her common sense solutions and recommendationsVisit her blog on http://www.train–your–dog.blogspot.com/ Or you can contact her by E-mail. eva.moffat@onetel.net

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Posted by John Hocking -  at 9:52 pm

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Are There Training Differences between Pure Breed Dogs and “Mutts”?

The pure bred dog, no manner the breed, is truly a beautiful animal to look upon. These are animals that have been refined, over the centuries, to reach their pure and unadulterated state as found today. The pure bred dogs have also been bred for temperament and bloodlines from the earliest of times. Yet there is another kind of dog that goes back in history even further than any pure bred dog! What is this unique breed?

It’s the Mixed Breed, or Mutt, as they are so often called. These dogs are of a very ancient mix of pedigrees that are not always of the best of mixes but they are most assuredly very unique animals. The temperament of these dogs is usually better and they tend not to have the congenital defects of their pure bred counterparts. It is possible to even produce similar dogs thru concentrated breeding efforts but, as a general rule, the mixed breeds are unique animals that can’t be easily replicated.

But what of their training capacity? Is there any reason to train these animals in any different manner than their pure bred brethren?

For the most part the simple answer is no. These animals are fully capable of learning any behavior that the pure breed is capable of and, because of a generally better temperament, they will often times learn more – faster. Due to their better temperaments and overall higher intelligence the mixed breed dogs will score quite high in obedience pre-tests and are very trainable. While pure breed animals have been refined over the centuries it has occasionally led to an in-breeding of the specific breed. This in-breeding has led the way to more congenital defects and maladjusted temperaments than the typical “mutt”. This is primarily due to the simple law of nature that states “the strong will survive” – hence mixed breed dogs with congenital defects don’t usually survive in nature.

Thus the mongrel, or mutt, has escaped the congential problems of many of the typical pure bred dogs. The mongrel 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. A mixed breed dog can have the house pet qualities of a Poodle alongside the protective qualities of a Doberman and the maternal eye of a Collie. While possessing all of these qualities the mixed breed normally may leave behind the overly aggressive and high strung tendencies of its otherwise pure bred ancesteral cousins. This figured into the equation along with the price factor of the animals and it is quite easy to see why so many households happily have a mixed breed pet. These animals have the ability to display intelligence, show care, obey commands and circumvent obstacles. They have been doing so for thousands of years and show no signs of stopping. Go to any circus and look closely at the dogs that perform their. In the vast majority of the time the dogs you see are “mutts”! Why don’t you see the pure breds traiined as performers? It’s because of the problems we have alrady mentioned above!

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!

About the author:

All about the poodle breeds and dog care in general. No sales hype just facts and information you can use to help with dog training, proper dog nutrition, dog clothing and dog jewelry. Visit: Dog Training to learn more

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Posted by John Hocking - 4/25/2006 at 11:34 am

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An introduction to Clicker Training for Dogs

Clicker Training for Dogs

What is a ‘clicker’?

A clicker is simply a small plastic box, containing a metal plate which, when pressed, makes a ‘click’ sound.

What is clicker training?

Clicker Training is a method of ‘positive reinforcement training’ – that is, rewarding the behaviours that we like instead of punishing behaviours that we don’t like. When the dog does what we want him to do, we ‘click’ and give him a treat.

So, we train the dog to understand that the ‘click’ means “well done” and that a treat is coming.

Benefits of Clicker Training

The benefit of the clicker is that it makes a consistent sound and we can make the sound at the very moment that the dog is carrying out the behaviour that we like. The dog will learn to associate the good behaviour with the ‘click’ and the forthcoming treat, and will learn to repeat the behaviour.

Of course, we can be positive just by saying “good dog” however, there are some potential problems with this. We will inevitably use a different tone depending on what mood we are in, so it is not a consistent sound; dogs are very sensitive to body language and tone so will receive mixed signals depending on your mood!

The other main problem is timing – by the time we have said “good dog”, the dog may have stopped the positive behaviour and started doing something else. Dogs do not have the power to determine which one of the behaviours is the good one, so again they receive a mixed signal.

Where do you start with Clicker Training?

The most important thing you need is your clicker! The next thing you’ll need are some treats. You will need small, easy to eat, tasty treats – something that will really make his mouth water! They must be quick to eat because this is a dynamic, fast way to train, so you don’t want him spending ages crunching through huge biscuits! Cheese, cut up into small pieces is irresistible to most dogs, or cooked sausages cut up. The treats need to be easily accessible – either in a loose pocket or a bag carried around your waist perhaps.

Now, start somewhere with minimal distractions. Our first aim is show the dog the meaning of the clicker. Stand in front of him, click ONCE and give a treat. At this point, the dog doesn’t have to do anything for his treat – he just needs to learn the association of the ‘click’ and treat routine. Spend some time doing a ‘click’, then treat. Generally give 1 treat but very occasionally, ‘jackpot’ with a handful of treats. Being unpredictable is a good trick to use with dogs – he’ll eventually work harder because although he knows he’ll get a treat anyway, it’ll be in the back of his mind that he might just get 5 treats if he does something extra special!

He will very quickly learn that a ‘click’ means that a treat it coming – you will see the recognition in his behaviour. His ears will prick at the ‘click’ sound, he may get excited, his behaviour will show when he expects a treat following the ‘click’.

The Top 3 Clicker Training Rules

1. ALWAYS treat after a click – even if you’ve accidentally clicked. The dog must have absolute faith in the ‘click means treat’ routine. Do not let the kids have the clicker to play with as a toy – even if they’re in a different room to the dog, he WILL hear it and will be tormented if his treats don’t follow. The clicker is the dog’s toy and no-one else’s!!

2. Only click ONCE. Don’t get excited when he does wonderful things and ‘click, click, click, click’ – this takes the consistency out of the ‘click’ and treat routine. One click is perfectly sufficient!!

3. Keep training sessions short and sweet, preferably around five minutes. They should be fun for both of you; fun for him because he’s getting lots of treats and is using his brain, and fun for you because it is far easier to train him than you ever imagined – but keep it fun by keeping it short!

When he is responding to the ‘click’ and visibly waiting for his treat, you are ready to move on to the next section on teaching basic clicker training commands.

About the author:

Stephanie has written many articles on dog training which can be found at the Kennel Corner website.

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Posted by John Hocking -  at 11:31 am

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American Pit Bull Terrier Training: How To Train An Aggressive Dog

Aggressive Pit Bulls can become a very serious problem if not dealt with in a proper manner. New laws exist that state if a dog bites or attacks someone, the dog’s owner will be held responsible and the dog put down. This is just another reason that Pit Bull owners should invest the time and energy to properly train their dogs.

There are many different reasons why a Pit Bull terrier may become aggressive. Here are a couple of the most common that I see:

- Your dog may feel that his territory is being invaded – Your dog may feel threatened

When a dog exhibits signs of aggression, they usually come from a lack of confidence and feelings of insecurity. Basic obedience training won’t solve your Pit Bull’s problem with aggressive behavior, the only solution is serious dog training. Keep in mind that an aggressive dog doesn’t just bite, he barks and lunges at people as well and he could also attack another pet.

I would strongly recommend seeking the services of a professional dog trainer if you’re having a real problem with aggression. Training an aggressive dog is a challenge and can prove to be expensive, but it is a small price to pay when you consider you’ll be saving your Pit’s life and possibly the life of some other animal or individual. To find a professional trainer who handles cases of aggression, contact your local veterinarian and ask for referrals.

Be sure that you do your homework and thoroughly investigate the schools which are recommended. Look at their facilities and learn what methods they use when training dogs. The last thing you want is for your Pit Bull to exhibit worse behavior after going through training school than when he first entered.

I applaud your decision to be a responsible Pit Bull terrier owner and have your dog trained. An aggressive Pit can halter the relationship that you have with him, hurt other people, hurt other animals, and give this fabulous breed a bad reputation. After it is all said and done, I’m certain you’ll agree that having your Pit Bull trained was a fantastic decision!

About the author:

To learn all about Pit Bull dogs and training a Pit Bull, visit http://www.pitbullsrevealed.com/ today.

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Posted by John Hocking -  at 11:30 am

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American Pit Bull Dog Obedience Training

The Pit Bull terrier is an amazing dog and is extremely energetic and can certainly prove to be a handful if not properly trained. American Pit Bulls are extremely loyal and when a relationship is formed, it lasts forever. If you’re a new Pit Bull owner, you really need to understand how demanding these dogs can be and realize that they need a lot of attention and training in order to recognize their full potential as pets. Pits are very intelligent dogs and this will work to your advantage as you’re going through the training process.

Because of their high intelligence, Pit Bulls can have stubborn streak in them but don’t let this scare you when it comes to obedience training time. You as the owner must remember that there will be times when you ask him to do something and he’s not going to obey, even though he knows what you are expecting him to do. Remember to remain patient in these times and don’t get frustrated. The earlier you being training your Pit, the better. At 8 weeks of age, you can begin basic training and socializing your Pit Bull puppy. Remember, make sure to keep the training activities fun and use positive reinforcements to encourage desired behavior.

Socialization is one of the key areas of focus for Pit Bull training. Pits can be extremely friendly and affectionate animals but they can be dog aggressive if not properly socialized. The best way to socialize your pup is to enroll in training classes. Training classes allow your Pit to be trained side by side with other dogs.

When your Pit Bull puppy reaches the age of 13-16 weeks, you can begin a more serious training routine. During this age, your Pit will likely test his boundries with you and explore the area of dominance. He may nip and try to assume the alpha dog role. It is important to be strong during this time and maintain the dominant role in the relationship.

Pit Bulls are genuinely lovable family dogs that if properly trained, make a great pet for anyone. They are excellent dogs that love being around their “people”. Be sure to train your Pit Bull as early as possible and remember to stay consistent.

About the author:

To learn all about American Pitbull Terriers and training a Pitbull, visit http://www.pitbullsrevealed.com/ today.

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Posted by John Hocking - 4/24/2006 at 11:37 am

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Agility Dog Training And Pit Bull Terriers

Spending time training your Pit Bull can be very rewarding and fun for you both. It helps build a stronger bond between dog and owner that is important for the happiness of both parties. There are many different types of training that you can choose to do with your Pit Bull, one such is agility training.

Agility training is the process of teaching your dog to successfully navigate an obstacle course. If the training is successful, your pet should be able to do it by only listening to and obeying your commands. During an event, the dogs are timed and to win must not make any mistakes and must have the fastest time. It takes a lot of practice for a dog to be successful at this, but can be quite fun for both dog and trainer. This activity is especially good for Pit Bulls because it gives them a good outlet for all the extra energy they seem to have.

Most experts recommend not starting agility training until your dog is at least one year old, at least not to enter in a competition before that age. Many owners who train their dogs to participate in these events will purchase their own equipment to have at home, so that they can begin training the dog at an earlier age. Agility training equipment can be quite expensive, so some trainers prefer to build their own equipment. Instructions can be found online and in books that should be available either in your local library or bookstore. Owners should be careful to watch the dog for any signs of injury, because occasionally working on agility training while the puppy is still growing will put a lot of strain on joints and bones that are not fully conditioned yet. It is recommended to have your dog cleared by a veterinarian before beginning any type of agility training.

The dog should also understand and obey basic commands before beginning any other type of training. Any type of training helps dog and owner to build a better relationship with each other, allowing them to work better and better together as time goes on. You should also work through any behavior or aggression issues your Pit Bull may have before considering agility training. The results will be less satisfactory and take longer to achieve if the dog is also working through other issues.

Most Pit Bull owners that are serious about their dog competing in agility competitions will enroll him in a training class, at least to help teach him the basics, then work with the dog on their own to enhance what he has learned. Being in a class will also help your dog work on his socialization, which will make him behave better around other dogs. Pit Bulls tend to want to fight when around other dogs, especially those of the same gender.

The most important thing to remember is no matter what type of training you do with your Pit Bull, you both should enjoy it. Spending time together will help build a better bond, leading to a lasting relationship. Whether you want your dog to compete or not, the benefits for both you and the dog are many.

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Posted by John Hocking -  at 11:35 am

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