Happy Dog Happy You

Never allow your puppy to bite. This sort of thing will become a bad habit and be hard to break later on.
If he bites your hands, give him a tap on his nose or under his chin. He will probably yelp, but he needs this lesson as early in life as you can give it […]

Should your dog be only so-so in any elements of basic obstacle or retrieving training, shore up weak areas prior to initiating the “Retrieve Over High Jump.”
Otherwise, the animal may extend previous problem behaviors into the new activity.
When starting the Retrieve Over High Jump, begin that day’s session with a Retrieve followed by a recall […]

We do not need to develop the virtue of patience for its own sake. There is nothing to be gained by being patient with a dog who is obviously headed in the wrong direction.
On the other hand, when the dog owner is guided by knowledge and understanding, it is so easy to be patient that […]

Puppies and dogs that jump up on you are only looking for attention, and it is your duty to give it to them.
If, when you enter a room, your puppy dashes over to greet you, bend over to pet him. If you simply stand where you are, he will probably want more of a greeting […]

Distractions are stimuli that may entice a dog to break from command. “Proofing” is exposing your dog to distractions. The purpose is to teach the dog in a controlled setting that he must obey your commands despite whatever is happening nearby.
Taking every dog through every step isn’t mandatory, but do so with animals whose working […]

The following is a list of 6 hand signals that are commonly used in dog obedience training.
1. “Come”: A movement across the body from the side toward the opposite shoulder.
2. “Down”: Can be done in two ways. The first way is with the arm raised to shoulder height in a striking motion if the owner […]

Having a dog that knows how to Heel demonstrates control and is useful under situations where he needs to stay close to you and pay attention to you.
But for many of us, the main reason we take our dogs for a walk is for daily exercise where it does not really matter what he does, […]

The term “etiquette” refers to an acceptable mode of social behavior.
Unlike commands, which are executed only on order, manners color behavior at all times. Unless you and your dog still live in a cave, he will need some manners. Naturally, your pup’s mother began this phase of his education, teaching him to play gently, to […]

Most people think of basic obedience training for dogs as a series of commands that the dog, reluctantly, learns to execute. On one level, this is accurate.
However, before we begin the mechanics of teaching specific commands, let us look for a moment beyond training as the dog learning a series of orders. Underneath it all, […]

At the beginning of the training, your puppy should be wearing a flat or rolled leather collar. Keep the leash handy but begin with it off.
Start the training indoors and avoid distractions.
The simplest way to teach your puppy to sit is to hold a toy above his head, or just snap your fingers while you […]