A question like how to become a dog trainer was never asked in yester years. There were no schools and curriculums for man to learn to be a dog trainer because human beings were very close to Nature. Today in the urban jungle man and beast has moved so far away that the skill has to be acquired.

For those opting to make a living out of training dogs there are professional dog training schools. The first thing is that this line is only for dog lovers. One has also to love people because the career involves getting people to train dogs. It requires patience and passion.

Secondly one should have book education as well as hands-on experience in this field. No degrees are required and this makes the onus more serious. To prepare the groundwork read books on [Read more...]

Dog house training is concerned with teaching the dog to be toilet trained. This is a vital issue considering the bonding between man and beast. If not trained it may even result in a painful separation and trauma.

Dogs are sociable creatures that move in packs. This does not mean you will have to bring in more mutts into the house. The dog will identify itself with your family and with the owner as the alpha leader of the pack. Accordingly it will listen to the leader. Thus from the very beginning of dog house training it must be made clear that the owner is the boss.

The adult house training dogs will require patience. The owner must be ready for the initial hiccups for later rewards. If not, do not go for a dog. No matter what the rulebook says the [Read more...]

Dog barking is a serious problem. Dogs just bark, it is as simple as that, as you well know if you are a dog owner. But the sole purpose of a barking dog is not just to drive you crazy; there are at least three common reasons for it.

One is frustration, social isolation and attention seeking. Especially the older dog will bark for a long time, if he is left all by himself without any interaction or company. He gets bored, and he becomes very vocal when he is bored.

The environment is also a factor for dog barking. If he is kept in the backyard, and there are no other pets or toys or other dogs, he will get bored; even a friendly cat can keep him occupied and can stop dog barking. [Read more...]

photo courtesy of Sigridur Vala Gunnarsdottir
Agility dog training is all about teaching dogs tricks. Here the old adage holds true – an old dog cannot be taught new tricks. So the start must be made when they are puppies and just beginning to understand.

It is a sport – a sport with shows and prizes across the globe. The main artists are the dog and the handler. The latter guides the dog through an obstacle run in which both time and accuracy are crucial factors.

In dog agility training the dogs are kept unleashed and neither food nor toys are allowed to be offered as incentives. The handlers are not allowed to touch either the dog or the hurdles. The handler can only control the animal by the tone of his voice or [Read more...]