Dog Training With A Training Collar Or Choke Collar

There are a variety of names that go under the broad heading of “training collar”. Some of them are — choke collar, choke chain, training collar, correction collar and slip collar. These are all training collars and are used by professionals and amateur trainers alike.

Training collars are effective tools if they are used properly. Here are a few thoughts to apply when using training collars:

Does it fit? A properly fitted collar makes the collar easier to use and a lot safer for the dog. Determining if the training collar is the right size is relatively easy. The ideal size training collar should fit snugly, yet comfortably over the dog’s head. It is important that the training collar not fit too tightly, but it should not be too loose either. A training collar that is too tight will be too hard to put on and off. On the other hand, a training collar that is too loose can accidentally fall off of the dog’s head when it lowers its head. The collar should also not be too long.

It is best to measure the dog’s neck with a tape measure, then add 2 to 3 inches to that measurement. So if your dog has a neck 12” in diameter, you would want to buy a training collar that is 14” in length. Chain slip collars are generally sized in two inch increments.

• Has it been put on correctly? Put it on right and it will be more effective and less dangerous.
• Is it being used correctly? Don’t use the collar as punishment. Rather, use it only as a sharp reminder to the dog about their behavior. Use short sharp jerks of the collar, not constant pressure. Using constant pressure could be dangerous to the dog.
• Is it the right weight for your dog? In addition to the weight, the size of the links should also be appropriate for your dog’s size and weight.
• Is the collar placed correctly? It is important to properly place the collar on the dog. When fitting a training collar, the part of the chain which is connected to the leash should be on the top of the dog’s neck. With this type of arrangement, the collar releases the instant the leash is loosened. Training collars work by making the collar tight and loose in a fast manner. Tightening the collar is the first part of the correction, and making it loose is the second part of the correction.

If the part of the training collar that is attached to the leash is not on the top of the dog’s neck, the collar can still be made tight, but it will not release back to a loose state easily. This constant pressure on the dog’s neck initiates a counter response on the part of the animal, and the dog will quickly learn to pull and strain against the leash.

Make sure you purchase a collar that is both well made and strong. This is a vital step to the safety of yourself and your dog.

What do you do if the collar breaks? First, don’t panic! For the fist couple of minutes your dog won’t even know they have an unexpected freedom. If you continue to pretend that the collar is still attached, you can usually get control of the dog back.

If your collar should break, you can usually make a quick replacement by making a “slip lead”. Just take the snap of the leash and run it through the handle and then slip the loop you formed over the dog’s head. Not perfect, but sure solves the immediate problem.

Dog Training With A Head Collar

The head collar has become an increasingly popular dog training tool in the past couple of years. Two of the most well known brands of head collar on the market are the Gentle Leader and the Halti, but there are many other brands that incorporate the basic head collar concept.

Many people find the Gentle Leader easier to fit that the Halti, and in addition the Gentle Leader is designed to fasten around the dog’s neck. The advantage of this design is that even if the dog is somehow able to wriggle out of the muzzle, it is still wearing a collar. This safety feature is very important, especially during training outside or in novel situations. On the other hand, the Halti offers better control of the dog, and for this reason it is often favored when working with very aggressive dogs.

Training a dog with a head collar has a number of advantages over training with a traditional or training collar. For one thing, head collars are often easier to use for beginning dog trainers than are training collars. Head collars are also quite effective at preventing dogs from pulling, or controlling and retraining dogs that tend to pull.

Head collars can also be quite effective at controlling dogs in difficult situations, such as controlling a dog that wants to be with other dogs. Most owners know of some situations in which their dogs are difficult to control, and head collars can be quite effective at controlling these volatile situations.

Head collars can be excellent for controlling dogs that are very strong, or for working with a dog in an area that contains a great many distractions. For instance, head collars are great for when your dog is on an outing, or in an area where there will be other dogs and other distractions.

Even though a head collar can be a great tool, it should not be used as a replacement for effective dog training. A head collar is most effective when it is used in combination with strong and sensible dog training methods, such as reward training and other forms of positive reinforcement.

Disadvantages of head collars

Even though head collars have many advantages, they have some distinct disadvantages as well. For one thing, head collars tend to make many dogs dependent on the equipment, and they quickly learn the difference between their regular collar and the head collar, and adjust their behavior accordingly.

In addition, some dogs, particularly those not accustomed to wearing a head collar, dislike wearing it and paw at it, try to rub it off or pull excessively. If your dog exhibits this behavior, the best strategy is to keep it moving until it learns to accept the collar. A good alternative is to have the dog sit by pulling up on the dog’s head.

Another disadvantage of the head collar is the reaction that many people have to it. Many people think that a head collar is a muzzle, and react to the dog as if it may bite. While this is not necessarily a defect of the head collar, many people do find it troublesome.

In conclusion, training with a head collar is much like training with a training collar or any other equipment. While the head collar can be an important and useful tool, it is important to use it appropriately, follow all package instructions, and to combine its use with solid training methods. The eventual goal of dog training with a head collar should be to have the dog behave as well with a regular collar as it does with the specialized head collar.

Dog Training: Using the Reward Training Method

While reward training is commonly viewed as the most current style of dog training, it is actually a lot older than most other methods of dog training.  It is likely that the reward training method has been in use since dogs were domesticated thousands of years ago.  Early humans likely used some unofficial type of reward training when refining the wolf pups that ultimately became domesticated dogs.

A lot of the ideas about current methods of reward training go back several decades.  But what we know as reward training today has only enjoyed its recognition for the past 10 or so years.

Most reward training proponents are not so eager about other methods of dog training, like the leash and collar style. It is likely, though, that the best approach to training your dog will be a mixture of leash and collar training with reward training.

Additionally, a certain training style might work great for one particular dog, but not for another.  Some dogs who are not motivated by reward training but do well with the leash/collar method, and other dogs respond well to reward training while leash/collar training does not work at all.  Fortunately, the majority of dogs fall somewhere in between.

One of the more popular methods of reward training currently is clicker training.  While clicker training does not work for every dog, it can still be a highly useful method of training dogs.  The way clicker training works is by teaching to associate a clicking sound with a positive reinforcement, such as a treat.  When the dog does something well, the trainer reacts by clicking the clicker, then immediately offering the dog a treat.  In time, the dog learns to react to the clicker only.

In reward training the most common type of treat is a food reward.  Almost always, complex tricks or behaviors can only be taught using this type of reinforcement.  In fact, trainers who train dogs for movies and television use food-based reward training almost totally.

Reward training is used for all types of dog training, including for police and military work.  The majority of training in scent detection and tracking utilize a kind of reward training.  You can also use reward training in teaching the basic dog training commands.

In reward training a lure is frequently employed to entice the dog into a desired position or stance.  The lure helps to convince the dog to perform the sought after behavior of his own volition.

Getting the dog to carry out a behavior without being handled is important.  The point of the training, in fact, is to get the dog to execute a behavior without any handling by the trainer.

Once the dog has carried out the commanded behavior, he is rewarded with a positive reinforcement, such as a food treat.  Treats are often used in order to reinforce good behaviors, but other positive reinforcements, such as verbal praise, can also be used for reinforcement.

It is important that a reward-trained dog also be a reliable dog.  If a dog is trained to do a job, such as police work or drug detection, outside distractions are to be expected.  Therefore it is important to train the dog to work and be focused around diversions, as well as to socialize him with other animals and people.

Sometimes dog trainers only train the dog inside the house or back yard, only when the owner is there, free of distractions.  It is important to take the dog outside of his comfort zone and introduced to new people and situations.

It is also important that the dog be trained to pay attention to the handler always.  When the owner has the complete attention of the dog, he has complete control of the dog.  When executed correctly, reward training is a very effective training method that helps to earn the respect and the attention of the dog.

Dog Training Tips That Work!

In dog training, the most simple acts often produce the best results. In any dog pack, the alpha sets the rules and the rest follow. Therefore, by establishing yourself as the alpha, you can be sure that your obedience training sessions will be that much more productive. The following is a list of 8 simple things you can do to teach your new puppy or unruly dog that you are the alpha in your pack.

Never feed your dog from your plate while you’re eating. A dog must learn that your are the alpha and that it can only eat when you are finished with your meal.

1. Never allow your dog on the sofa or on your bed. And if your dog sits on your path, gently shove it out of the way with your foot. By setting boundaries, you will instill in your dog that it must obey the alpha.
2. Never allow your dog to chew on your towels, socks, shoes, or clothing. Use bitter apple to discourage these behaviors.
3. NEVER HIT YOUR DOG FOR MISBEHAVING. Instead use the tone of your voice and a collar/leash to teach and make corrections.
4. Never allow a puppy to chew on your fingers. Otherwise, it will become a habit that will be very hard to break when it becomes an adult. Spray you hands and fingers with bitter apple and then allow the dog to proceed. The dog will learn not to bite your fingers without associating any negative thoughts about you as the alpha.
5. Never leave a hyper dog unexercised. Playing ball before you leave for work and after you return can help alleviate your dog’s pent-up energy.
6. Never keep your dog alone in a yard for days at a times. Without proper socialization your dog will become aggressive towards other dogs as well as other humans. A dog needs contact with its own species in order to learn how to behave in a dog pack equally as well as it must learn to behave in a human pack. A dog left alone for long periods of time will believe itself to be the alpha and try to dictate to its master instead of the other way around.
7. Never allow your dog to jump on you or your guests. Its fun when your dog is a puppy, but it isn’t fun when it becomes a 100lb behemoth. Practice with a collar and leash and set up situations where a neighbor rings your doorbell while your dog awaits their entrance. Make a sharp correction and command your dog to “sit” when as your neighbor enters the house. And, of course, don’t forget to praise the dog as soon as it follows your command. Once the dog knows what to do, try the same thing off leash, but this time use a water spray bottle and spray your dogs face with water as punishment for jumping with a stern vocal correction of “NO”. Proceed to praise your dog once again when your dog obeys your command. This way, it will learn to associate praise with correct action.

By following these steps, you will establish yourself as the alpha. And, you will have a head start in training your dog because it will have already learned to respect your authority as its leader.

Dog Training Tips: Things I’ve Learned About Agility Dog Training

I’ve owned many dogs, throughout my life, but have never known exactly how to train them properly.  I based my training on punishment and just couldn’t figure out why that didn’t work that well.  But, almost two years ago, I started training my Papillon for agility competition.  She was extremely high-drive and I knew she’d really love it.  So, I found a good agility training school and off we went.  We’ve been competing, very successfully, for almost a year now and, looking back, I learned so many important things about dog training!

First of all, most trainers require that dogs have completed at least a basic obedience class before proceeding to agility training.  This is critical to agility training and, in my opinion, every dog and handler could benefit from a basic obedience class.  I learned that I have a food-motivated dog and that she will work her heart out for highly prized treats, not for punishment!  There are skills you and your dog will learn, through an obedience class, such as recalls, sit/stays, down/stays, and walking nicely on a leash.  Each of these skills is something you will need every time you compete, not to mention day-to-day life with your dog.

The pace of your training will always be set by your dog.  Each dog learns at a different speed and, what comes easily for one dog, may not come easily for another.  So, be very patient while training your dog any skill.  Make it a game.  Let your dog take as much time as it needs, without getting impatient or frustrated, to figure out what behavior you want from it.

All tasks must be broken down into small pieces, whether the task is a simple sit, the beginnings of obstacle training, or more complex tricks or agility sequences.  If you break the task down to something small, then mark/reward and repeat, several times before making the task larger, you will have success without stressing the dog out.  For example, when training an agility tunnel, you scrunch it up to its smallest form.  Have someone place your dog at the entrance while you sit on the ground at the exit, with a treat, and call your dog.  As soon as the dog comes through that little piece of a tunnel, you mark/reward.  Slowly begin expanding the tunnel using the same technique.  In just a few minutes, you’ll have your dog going through however long a tunnel you need.

For agility training, once the dog begins obstacle training, there is never a wrong answer.  Dogs get confused, and may shut down, if they start being told they’re doing the wrong thing, so keep the training light and never scold for doing the incorrect thing.  If the dog doesn’t do what you want it to, you simply do not mark/reward for that action.  You just ask again and, the minute you get the correct response, mark/reward and make a huge deal of it.  That will make your dog more anxious to give you that same answer again.  As you start competing, you might want to use a particular word to indicate the incorrect response, such as “uh oh,” or “oops,” but not with a scolding tone.  This will indicate that the dog will be asked to try again but everything is fine between the two of you.

Lastly, always keep the training fun for both you and your dog.  Even when you start competing, or have been competing for a long time, this is critical.  If you start getting caught up in the competition and title-winning, you might forget why you started agility to begin with: because it’s fun!  When the game stops being fun, your dog won’t enjoy it anymore and neither will you.  Agility is a wonderful sport and will forever secure the relationship between you and your dog.  Run fast, run clean, and, above all, have fun!

Dog Training Secrets – What You Should Know

Every dog and every dog owner has his or her own unique dog training challenges.  Each breed of dog has a different temperament as does each individual dog.  And dog owners are no different.  Despite the differences, there are some basic things in common for training all dogs.

No matter why you have a dog, he should at least have some very elementary dog training.  No one wants a dog who isn’t housebroken, who runs away or into the street, who won’t sit, come or stay when you want him to.  Both you and your dog will be happier with a little common ground on obedience training.

One of the first things to take into account when dog training is that dogs are programmed for a world of leaders and followers.  You have to be the leader in your relationship.  Signs of a leader are absolute consistency.  Know what you want your dog to do and keep that constant from day to day and training session to training session.   Don’t shout.  That is a sign that you have lost control.  And keep your dogs attention focused on you during the entire training session.

Attention is the second important thing to keep in mind for dog training and one of the hardest to maintain.  It has been said that ninety percent of dog training is getting and keeping his attention. Dogs are very much like small children and have short attention spans.  Keep training sessions short – 20 minutes is fine, or even a couple of 10 minute sessions.  Work with your dog in a quiet environment that is free of distractions.  Talk to your dog in a quiet voice.  Use his name and explain what you want him to do.  He may understand no more than, “Blah blah blah, Toby”, but your voice will keep him focused in your direction.

Experts have found that positive dog training is more effective that a system of rewards and punishment.  A dog who looks forward to training sessions as fun and full of rewards is a dog who will learn faster and better.  Reward accomplishments with treats or words of praise or pats.  As your dog learns new skills, you can reward him for each step along the way.  If he doesn’t respond the way you want, rethink what you are asking him to do and how you are asking him to do it.  What worked as a dog training method for one dog may not work as well for the next.  Your dog may need to review some more basic dog training lessons before going on to new lessons. Rather than punishment, a stern NO, blocking a movement with your hands, or withholding rewards when he doesn’t perform, and remaining consistent are the best ways to encourage your dog to exhibit the behavior you want.  Remember that it is in his nature (as well as yours) to want to test limits and see how much he can get away with.  Consistency in dog training and rewards are what get positive results, not punishments.

Dogs are very much like us.  They want to follow a leader they respect.  And dog training is just like school.  They like to do things that are fun and make them feel good, where they get rewards for accomplishing what is asked of them.  And they want the same thing their owners want, a happy and safe relationship with the ones they are love.  A little dog obedience training will go a long way in making this happen.

Dog Training – Reward and punishment

Most training revolves around giving the dog consequences for his behaviour, in the hope of influencing the behaviour the dog will exhibit in the future. Operant conditioning defines four types of consequences:

Positive reinforcement adds something to the situation to increase the chance of the behaviour being exhibited again (for example, giving a dog a treat when he sits.)

Negative reinforcement removes something from the situation to increase the chance of the behaviour being exhibited again (for example, releasing the tension on an uncomfortable training collar when the dog stops pulling on the leash).

Positive punishment adds something to the situation to decrease the chance of the behaviour being exhibited again (for example, growling at a misbehaving dog).

Negative punishment removes something from the situation to decrease the chance of the behaviour being exhibited again (for example, walking away from a dog who jumps up).

Most modern trainers say that they use “positive training methods”, which is a different meaning of the word “positive” from that in operant conditioning. “Positive training methods” generally means preferring the use of reward-based training to increase good behavior over that of physical punishment to decrease bad behavior. However, a good trainer understands all four methods, whether or not she can put operant-conditioning terminology to them, and applies them as appropriate for the dog, the breed, the handler, and the situation.

Rewards

Positive reinforcers can be anything that the dog finds rewarding – special food treats, the chance to play with a tug toy, social interaction with other dogs, or the owners attention. The more rewarding a dog finds a particular reinforcer, the more work he will be prepared to do in order to obtain the reinforcer.

Some trainers go through a process of teaching a puppy to strongly desire a particular toy, in order to make the toy a more powerful positive reinforcer for good behaviour. This process is called “building prey drive”, and is commonly used in the training of Narcotics Detection and Police Service dogs. The goal is to produce a dog who will work independently for long periods of time.

Some trainers believe that the toy acts as a positive reinforcer for the desired behavior, when in all likelihood the prey drive works on an entirely different level from standard training and conditioning techniques. This is seen most clearly in the fact that, according to the laws of operant conditioning, positive reinforcers lose their effectiveness if they’re given every single time a dog does what is desired of him; the more predictable the reinforcer, the less reliable the behavior. Yet detection dogs only work well when they are always rewarded with a toy, every single time they find drugs or explosives, etc. The reason for this disparity is that when a dog is trained through the prey drive, the training activates an instinctive, automatic sequence that has to be completed in order for the dog to feel satisfied. That sequence is: search, eye-stalk, chase, grab-bite, and kill bite. So when a dog searches and finds drugs or explosives, he feels he hasn’t finished his job unless he can bite something. This is the primary reason he’s always given the toy. It’s not really a positive reinforcer. If it were it would reduce the reliability of the behavior overall. It’s a means of completing the predatory sequence for the dog.

Punishments

“Positive punishment” is probably the consequence that is least used by modern dog trainers, as it must be used very carefully. A dog is generally only given this type of punishment if it is willfully disobeying the owner. Punishing a dog who does not understand what is being asked of him is not only unfair to the dog, but can make the dog a fearful or unwilling worker.

Punishments are administered only as appropriate for the dog’s personality, age, and experience. A sharp No works for many dogs, but some dogs even show signs of fear or anxiety with harsh verbal corrections. On the other hand, certain dogs with ‘harder’ temperaments may ignore a verbal reprimand, and may work best if the reprimand is coupled with a physical punishment such as a quick tug on a training collar. Trainers generally advise keeping hand contact with the dog to positive interactions; if hands are used to threaten or hurt, some dogs may begin to behave defensively when stroked or handled.

Avoiding punishment

Keeping a puppy on a leash in challenging situations or in his crate or pen when not closely supervised prevents the puppy from getting into situations that might otherwise invite an owner’s harsh reaction (such as chewing up a favorite pair of shoes).

Dog Training for Proper Behavior

Training a dog to act properly has many benefits, for the dogs and their human companions alike.  Dog behavior training is critical in order to prevent such negative behaviors as aggression.  It is important to deal with dog aggression issues by training dogs to interrelate appropriately with other dogs and especially people.

In order to know how to effectively train your dog to be a loyal and eager pet, it is important to know where dogs came from, and how their interaction with each other can affect training.

The first domesticated dogs were likely abandoned wolf puppies taken in by early humans.  These wild dogs were taught to perform tasks that the humans needed assistance with, like guardian territory and frightening potential predators.  Humans in turn provided sanctuary to the dogs, in addition to food and companionship.

This is a kind of connection that continues today.  Many dogs still perform a variety of tasks for their masters, including herding, guarding, and hunting.

Be aware that dogs are instinctively pack creatures before beginning a training program.  In wild dog packs, each member of the pack quickly learns his or her place in the ranking.  Only when the alpha dog dies does the hierarchy ever change once established.  The lower dogs understand that they do not challenge the pack leader, and the alpha dog carries out his duties as pack leader.

The other members of the pack look to the alpha dog for leadership, food, and protection.  Keeping this in mind, it is important for you to be the pack leader when you begin training your dog.

A dog that submits to his human pack leader will respect his commands without question.  Earning your dog’s respect is the first crucial step in effective dog training, and it will lay the groundwork for all succeeding training.

There are many reasons to train a dog properly.  A calm and well-mannered dog is pleasant to be near, both for the dog’s family, and other people he might encounter.  Additionally, being around an obedient dog assuages people’s fears, especially when it comes to more controversial breeds like Rottweilers and Pit Bulls.

Knowing why a dog is exhibiting a negative behavior is important in effectively training and modifying bad behaviors.  For instance, separation anxiety may be the root cause of many bad behaviors chewing and destructive behaviors.  Solving the root cause of the problem will help to eliminate the peripheral behaviors.

Stress and the lack of ability to deal with it can cause a host of unpleasant dog behaviors.  One objective of a high-quality dog training program is to help the dog to endure stress without exhibiting negative behaviors.

It is important to differentiate human behavior and dog behavior when training and working through bad behaviors.  Dogs and humans have different motivations and reactions, so avoid the temptation to see your dog as human, and react on that impulse.

One thing the humans and dogs have in common is their sociability and the need to form close groups and strong bonds.  While the bonding is very important to dogs and humans, it has served very different purposes in the evolution of each species over time.

Dog Training Career: What is Involved?

A dog training career may be just right for you, if you love working with dogs.  Dogs of all ages, from puppies to older dogs, need training, and their owners often don’t know how to train them.  They look for a professional dog trainer to do the job.

If you are thinking of a dog training career, you might want to start by practicing on your own dog.  If you are good at training your dog, you might be good at training other people’s dogs.  But if training your dog leaves you frustrated and drained, then becoming a dog trainer might not be the best career for you.

When you are training dogs, you are actually training the owners more than the dogs, so you need to be good with people to consider a dog training career.  People are not at their best when they are frustrated or embarrassed by their dog’s behavior.  Will you be able to deal with these distraught owners calmly, while at the same time tending to their dogs?  Give this some thought.

Consider volunteering to help out at a dog training class at your local shelter.  You will get a feel for what is involved in a dog training career.  If you are good, the teacher may let you teach a segment of the class.  This will be your trial by fire. If you do a good job, then you can move forward with your training.

You can prepare for a dog training career in several ways.

1. Attend a school specifically for those interested in a dog training career.  There are many schools and seminars available. Be sure to get lots of hands on training.

2. Become an intern or apprentice to a dog trainer in your area.  This way, you can learn dog training on the job.

3. Become a certified dog trainer.  Do a search on the internet for dog training certification programs.

Once you have the proper education in dog training, starting your business should be easy.  Decide if you want to work with individual clients in their homes or offer dog training classes.  It is a good idea to offer a combination of both.  By advertising your dog training classes, people who want individual help training their dogs will hear about you too.  Soon your dog training career will be off to a great start.

Check around in your area for facilities where you can hold the dog training classes.  Often the local humane society will have space for classes, or you could check with dog day care facilities.  In warm weather, you may be able to hold your classes outdoors.

Advertise your services by leaving brochures about your training program with veterinarians, dog supply stores, and pet shelters.  This way, your advertising will not cost you much.

Congratulations!  You have followed the steps above and have a thriving dog training career.  You love dogs and are working with them every day.  For a dog lover and a natural teacher, you have found the ideal business to be in.

Dog Training and Your Relationship With Your Dog

My best friend is incredible! She’s one of those rare types who hangs on every word you say. She’s content to be quiet when I need stillness, even though she’s one of those high-drive types. All I have to do is call and she’s there in an instant, no matter what she was doing before. She puts me ahead of all her other friends, never fails to make me feel special, and is a redhead just like me. But she’s not a person, even though she’s sure she is. She is a butterfly dog; a Papillon.

When I brought this eight-week-old bundle of joy home, I didn’t know what to call her. I’m not very good at naming anything, so I usually just observe for a couple of weeks and let the animal name itself by its personality. This puppy’s name became evident in nothing flat: Tazzie. She whirled around the house, jumping up on furniture five times her size, zooming and zipping and totally charming me. She was, indeed, a Tasmanian devil pup. I quickly realized the athleticism of this dog and knew I’d have to find her a “job” when she got a little older. High-drive dogs, that don’t have “jobs,” will certainly find other outlets for their energy and those outlets aren’t usually things you would enjoy!

You already have a burning love for your puppy, but what is your relationship like? Does it come when you call it? Does it sit or lay or stay? From your first class, at your dog training school, your relationship with your dog begins to change. I will warn you, however, that anything you want to teach your dog won’t come just with a once-a-week class, even if you have the best dog training school in the world. You have to practice with them, just a little bit, every day.

Tazzie was a very food-motivated dog, so the fact that she got food every time she did something right made training a blast for her, all by itself. And this happened every day! Bonus! She made fast friends at her new dog training school, so going to class was fun as well. She got to where she would whine, as soon as we pulled in the parking lot, until I finally got her out of that car.

So now you’re taking your dog to classes in a place they love, and you’re working with them every day. During that time, you’re paying complete attention to them, teaching them to pay complete attention to you, and they get their favorite food as icing on the cake. This does incredible things for the bond between you and your dog. They learn to focus on you, no matter what, and good things will come. They get praised and fed, or praised and allowed to tug on a toy, whichever motivates the dog more, so your relationship can’t help but blossom.

Ever since Tazzie and I started training together, she has claimed me as her own. When my other two dogs want to sit on my lap, she’ll push them out of the way to get the best spot because, I am her property, as far as she’s concerned. I do give the other dogs personal time as well, but I have to put her in a sit/stay or a down/stay so she’ll let them come get love.

She is, by far, the one I can trust the most, not only because of her training, but from the bond we gained through the training. She never takes her eyes off of me, since we began at our dog training school, and it serves us well in the agility ring!

If you want to forever alter and solidify the bond you share with your dog, find yourself a good dog training school, for whatever discipline you prefer, and go for it. With a little time, money, and patience, your relationship will become a forever relationship. If you do, your dog will turn out to be your best friend too!

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