Dogs can be very difficult animals to deal with from time to time, some breeds and types can be especially difficult to train and control. No mater how much time and effort you seem to be putting in, your efforts give no results.
Donât worry too much about persistently training you dog, it might not be your fault your dog is disobedient, people in different circumstances may be failing to train their dog for very simple reasons, whether it be your tone of voice, not having enough time to give your dog due to other commitments like work or hobbies, or your children throwing all the basic dog training rules out the window. Here we will try to educate you on the difference a professional dog trainer could have on your dogâs obedience, and how much it will cost.
The options available for dog training
Group dog training sessions locally – four to eight weekly 1 hour sessions for around $40 – $130 (£20 – £70).
Private dog trainers visiting your home or work place to give personal training to your dog for around $25 – $110 (£13 – £55) per hour.
Dog boarding kennel where your dog lives with the trainer for around 2 â 4 weeks getting many hours of professional dog behaviour training a day for around $1000 â $2,500(£550 â £1,300).
What you get for your money
So what do you get for your money? Many dog trainers concentrate on different areas of your dogâs obedience and you will usually get a much better service for the more money you pay. Standard training classes and trainers will concentrate on addressing the chewing, barking, biting and digging aspects of your dogâs behavior. Hand signals may also be covered in dog obedience classes along with showing you, the owner how to handle trickier situations that can only be over come at home like housetraining.
General guidelines for hiring a dog trainer are to always research the dog trainer well, find out qualifications the dog trainer has in his area of expertise and seek advice and information for other dog owners who have had their dogs trained previously. Get to know your trainer well before handing your dog over to him/her and make sure you are comfortable in the methods he/she uses.
I might be getting another dog soon and I don’t know whether it’s a boy or a girl. I have a brown dog named Coco and would like a matching name (other than Channel). Thanks in advance!
I just got a new dog named Pippy, but I want to change her name. It has to be similar sounding so that she can easily adjust.
What are some dog names that sound like Pippy?
She’s only had the name for about a month, and she doesn’t respond to it. I don’t think it will confuse her at all.
There comes a time in most home families when the children get a bit older and their dog or teddy is no longer the best thing in the world to play with, every new friend or existing friend your children make seems to have a cute little dog, and its only a matter of time before your children are going to start pestering you for one. So what should you look for is your serious about getting a family dog?
For starters your dog will need to be able to take everything your children can throw at it, children often donât have any idea of how to handle a new pet dog so donât expect them to play gently all the time, unknowing children have a tendency to be a little rough wile playing with dogs so a dog breed that can take some rough playing is essential.
Different dogs have different personalities just like humans do so be aware of this when purchasing a new dog, just because a dog breed is normally playful, energetic, and nice , this does not mean the one you get will be the same. Being prepared to put in work and time with your dog is also essential with a family dog because dogâs often take the things your children tell it to do as acceptable when this may not be the case, so dog behavior training will be needed at some point.
After considering the previous paragraphs Iâm sure you will be pretty certain on whether you still want a dog for your home or not, if you do then here are some suggestions on different breeds that you may want to consider.
Golden Retriever. The golden retriever is a good popular choice for families because of their active and loyal personality and a good all round dog.
Boxer. Although the boxer may look big and intimidating to some, the boxer is a very good family dog in that they love being around people, they take care of the family members, and are always willing to play.
Labrador Retreiver. An extremely popular pet in many households across the world, the Labrador is a very friendly loving dog that loves to play and be very active for your kids to play with.
Beagle. The beagle is a very sturdy dog that can take plenty of roughness and playing, and loves to be active and meet new people. A very excited and curious dog that is great for family life.
Boston Terrier. The terrier is a gentle, well mannered dog and enjoys a challenge. Boston terriers are very easy to train and make for great family dogs and friends.
Irish Setter. A very affectionate dog, the Irish setter is a very good choice for families due to its liking for children and constant happy playful attitude.
my dog is all black and i have made a list of my favorite names. can you help me pick one or make suggestions. thanks
Cocoa, Hershey, Licorice, Pepper, Sparky, Smokey, & Mocha
what about alfie?
I saw a pit-bull type dog at the shelter with ears that were docked very short to the head. Does this indicate that this dog was used or was intended to be used for dog fighting?
What do dog fighters do with the ears of the dogs anyway? In old days didn’t they used to dock them real close to the head?
French police dog training. Watch these canine police officers lay down the law! This was not shot by me. Don’t know where it came from.
Image taken on 2004-01-17 10:29:09 by Qole Pejorian.
Dog leashes or leads are an extremely essential training tool or even just for general care and wellbeing for your dog. Whether you use your leash for taking you dog for long walks or only use it for teaching your dog right from wrong in the comfort of your back garden, a lead is always an important buy for you and your dog.
As a dog owner and a consumer, your choice of dog leads/leashes is as you might expect, huge. With so much choice and variations, choosing which lead or leash to use can be a bigger challenge than the actual training of your dog.
So what are the different kinds of leads and leashes? Well trust me there are thousands out there to choose from, I will only go through a few of the more popular types of leash as Iâm sure there are many different types of leads being brought onto the market every week and it would be an impossible task to keep track of all of them.
In the next part of this article I will first go through the different types of lead then finish off with my personal views and preferences.
Extending leads
These do exactly what is says, they âextendâ away from the owner for a certain distance before running out of slack. With these leashes the owner has control of when to stop the lead extending further and can be used just like a normal leash if needs be.
Slip leads
These leads are a simple type of lead with a loop on both sides normally with and adjustable clip at the end that tightens when pulled or loosens around the dogâs neck for comfort when there is no pulling. Used by many for dog training.
Nylon leads
This is the cheaper option of dog lead, the simplest form of dog leash available, often causes rubbing and digging into your dogâs skin. Nylon leashes are best avoided.
Bungee leads
These leads help to eliminate the slack that other leads cause so that your dog does not trip over the leash and there is less pulling on your arm from a dog in the training process.
Leather leads
This is a popular type of lead that is comfortable for your dog and gives you full control of how far your dog can wonder. A good lead for training but can be tiring on your arm if your dog tends to try and pull you around.
My Conclusion
It is the preference of the trainer in hand at the end of the day but I feel leather leads are best for me and show your dog sum gentle authority when starting to train. Letting your dog wonder too far on walks can give your dog too much freedom and chance to misbehave.
If you are interested in training then I would go for a leather lead to begin, if you just like going for walks in the park or your dog is well behaved then you could maybe opt for an extendable leash.
I’m mulling over the idea of getting a second dog. I have a dog now, a dachshund. She’ll be almost a year old when I would bring this “maybe” second pup into my life.
So, for anyone who has ever brought another dog into a home with an existing dog…what effect did this have on the first dog? Did he/she seem happier? Glad to have a canine playmate? Confused? Depressed? Scared? I’m fully aware that dogs are pack animals and it is natural for them to live together, but I can’t help but worry.
Also, what effect did it have on his/her relationship with you? Did you stay close, or did both dogs grow a bit more distant from you? I always worried that if they have each other, they won’t need me! Haha, that sound a little selfish, but that was my thought. I love her very much and I would hate our “relationship” to be negatively affected.
I’ve always only had one dog at a time, so anything else you can tell me about having more than one dog would be very helpful!
Thanks to everyone who has answered so far. I’m really looking for personal experiences and stories. Please, if you’ve introduced a second dog into your home, share them with me. This is a very important decision for me.
Raymond – Ha, my pup is at the vet right now being spayed. Definitely not interested in pups (although they would be cute). I’m no backyard breeder.