General Dog Training

Below are articles realting to general training for dogs such as teaching your dog to Sit, Drop, Leave It, Come, Walk Nicely On Lead etc. Please check back regularly as new articles are added frequently.

• Beginners Loose Lead Walking Teaching a dog to walk on a loose lead is essential if you want to be able to enjoy walking with your dog. Nobody likes to be dragged around by a 40 kilo dog! Teaching your dog to walk on a loose lead also assures that his attention is where it ought to be, ON YOU!...
• But Ive Tried Everything - Really As a Behavioural Dog Trainer I am often called in as a last resort, when all else has failed. Then clients tell me the dog needs to ‘be fixed' or else it's going to be surrendered or worse still, put to sleep. Talk about pressure! They tell me that they've ‘tried everything' and that the dog is stubborn, un-trainable, naughty, dominant or downright evil. ...
• Controlling Undesirable Behaviour in Dogs Dogs often exhibit behaviours that are perfectly normal for dogs but undesirable when living among humans. It is perfectly normal for dogs to chew, dig, chase cats, bark etc. Unfortunately, these behaviours do not rank highly with humans. We need a way to teach dogs how to live with humans. In order to control undesirable behaviour exhibited by a dog I use two cues (commands)..........
• Do You Mishandle A Lead? If you want your dog to walk nicely then the first thing you must learn is how to properly handle a leash. Many people constantly mishandle their dogs leash and actually cause the dog to pull or act up on the lead. Leads are there purely as a last resort safety device - just in case a cat runs past you while you're out walking. You must not control your dog with the lead. Many people try to ‘steer' their dog with a lead. Use training and communication to control your dog's...
• Do You Nag Your Dog How many times have you asked your dog to Sit, Sit, SIT!, only to end up having to push his bum into a sit anyway? Nagging your does only teaches your dog that he does not need to respond to the word ‘Sit' until you push his bum to the ground. ...
• Does your Dog Ignore His Name In order to train your dog, it is critical that you are able to get its attention, first time, every time! That is what his name is for! Many people absent-mindedly train their dog to ignore their name by constantly using it in a negative manner. ...
• Does Your Dog Pull On Lead Pulling on lead is the number one complaint among dog owners who attend our classes! Unfortunately most owners have contributed to, if not directly caused, this problem by allowing our dogs to pull in the first place. Most dogs are rewarded for pulling on a lead!...
• Factors Influencing Success in Training Teaching our dogs to learn takes time, patience and a good sense of humour! The following pointers will help you to understand why Positive Reinforcement Training sometimes goes wrong. We explain the different components necessary to your training success. ...
• How To Crate Train Your Dog Following is some information designed to help you decide if you need to use a crate or some other form of confinement for your dog. ...
• How to Fade a Lure Many basic training exercises employ the use of a ‘lure'. We use a food treat to lure our dogs into the desired position. However, it is important that you stop using a lure once your dog understands what is required of him. This is a real turning point in any exercise. ...
• How to Motivate Your Dog Do you really know what motivates your dog? When your dog is motivated he learns much faster. Many owners have never really thought about what motivates their dog. They assume because he's a dog that he will enjoy ‘Dog' things i.e. things most dogs find rewarding. Applying this to your dog is akin to saying that ALL humans enjoy playing sport (I know I certainly don't!). What one dog finds rewarding or pleasurable may be boring, unpleasant or even punishing to another dog. For...
• How to Set Your Dog Up for Success Set your dog up for success! Many of us sabotage our training efforts by expecting too much, too soon from our dogs. This article provides a list of guidelines to help you and your dog succeed in your trianing efforts. ...
• How to Stop Your Dog Jumping Up Why do dogs jump up? Many dogs are compulsive greetersDogs that know each other often greet one-another with a ‘high ten'Often jumping up has been reinforced by owners as a puppyTo get attention To lick at your face in appeasement To invade your space.How NOT to fix this problemKneeing the dog in the chest Not only does this method not work, it is downright dangerous and could crack a rib or otherwise injure or even kill your dog....... ...
• How to Teach Drop The 'drop' command is useful in a number of situations. It is comfortable for your dog to remain in a drop position for long periods. It is harder for your dog to get up out of a drop. It is difficult for your dog to bark in the drop position. This article will give you step by step instructions to teach this command. ...
• How to Teach Leave It The goal of teaching your dog to ‘leave it' is to stop your dog from taking something into its mouth or investigating something that is dangerous or questionable (such as rubbish, faeces, cane toads, children's toys etc)...
• How to Teach Sit Sit is the most basic of behaviours and is useful in a number of situations. Your dog cannot sit and jump on you simultaneously! Teach your dog to 'Sit' to say please! ...
• How to Teach Stand Teaching your dog to stand is useful in a number of situations. Your Vet will love you if you can get your dog to stand for examination. Your groomer will love you. You will find it easier to brush your dog and check for fleas and ticks. ...
• How to Teach Watch Me Teaching our dogs a ‘Watch me' cue is very important. Put simply, ‘Watch me' means look at my face, pay attention and be ready for further instructions. This can help us in all kinds of situations. ...
• Introducing A New Baby And A Dog The arrival of a new baby to the home signals change for all members of the family, including the family dog. If introduced correctly, dogs and babies can quickly become best of friends. When badly handled the family dog may end up surrendered or worse, the baby hurt. Below are some tips for successfully introducing babies and dogs....
• Is Your Dog Living On Social Security Handouts Humans work for money, food is doggy money - dogs will work for it. Used correctly, this valuable resource can not only provide hours of entertainment for your dog, but can also help reinforce your position as leader. By utilising our dog's daily food rations, we can shape how our dogs behave using positive reinforcement techniques and environmental enrichment. ...
• Leadership Dos and Donts Contrary to what many people believe, dogs enjoy having a good leader/s to follow. If you are a good leader to you dog, he will live his life more comfortably and there will less stress in his life. He will be able to predict the consequences of his actions because rules and boundaries have been set down for him. ...
• Leash Handling Skills If you want your dog to walk nicely then the first thing you must learn is how to properly handle a leash. Many people constantly mishandle their dogs leash and actually cause the dog to pull or act up on the lead. The following are signs that you could be mishandling the lead:  Your dog bites the lead,   Your dog rolls on the ground when the leash is attached (I call this Death Rolling)  Your dog flips onto its back (I call this a Tap-Out) when the leash is...
• Positive Reinforcement Training The basic law of all animal learning (including humans!) tell us that behaviour that is rewarded will be repeated. There are many advantages to this type of training, some are listed in this article....
• Pros and Cons of Training Devices for Lead Walking People often resort to the use of training devices such as those listed below in order to train their dogs not to pull on lead. While some devices can assist in reducing owner fatigue due to pulling it is worth noting that these are training devices, designed for use in the short term – not long term solutions. The dog will still need to undergo training in order to permanently fix this problem. Also, some devices have the potential to cause serious injury, especially when used...
• Teaching Stay Teaching your dog to stay may save his life! The definition of the word ‘Stay' for a dog should be ‘Stay where you are in the same position (eg Sitting) until I release you.' ...
• Teaching Your Dog to Settle on a Mat Having a dog that can settle quietly on a mat is probably one of the most useful things an owner can have. Going to the mat becomes a cue to settle and be calm. The mat is never to be used as a punishment, so please never send your dog to the mat in anger. Rather, calmly send your dog to his mat to calm down and have some quiet time. ...
• The Outdoor Dog Has a Place to Live Not a Home It never ceases to amaze me why people want a dog and then sentence it to a lifetime of social isolation, banished to the backyard without little or no human attention for the rest of its life. I often receive telephone calls from clients wanting advice on what to do with their dog that is: a) Barking all day and night b) Escaping regularly c) Destroying the yard d) Threatening people at the fence e) Digging etc. When I question these people about the dog's living conditions I often find...
• Using Time Out Correctly When used correctly this method of punishment is far more effective than any other method. Time Out is very effective method to suppress undesirable behaviour in dogs. Studies have shown that, when used correctly, Time Out is as effective as electric shock in suppressing behaviour in dogs. This is due to a number of factors:...
• What Is Behavioural Wellness In Dogs When we talk about behavioural wellness many people struggle to understand exactly what it is. A dog that is behaviourally well is a pleasure to have around. They can be trusted to act appropriately in any given situation and are given more freedom as a result of this. In this article we have outlined exactly what constitutes behavioural wellness for dogs....
• What Is Normal Dog Behaviour? Many people are horrified when their dog exhibits behaviour that is normal for a dog. I have often witnessed people chastising their dogs in class for sniffing the bum of another dog, claiming it is disgusting. For a dog, sniffing bum is not only polite, it is required as part of the greeting ritual. It is the human equivalent of a hand shake! Consider the following examples of normal dog behaviour:...
• Why Commands Get in the Way of Training Many people are obsessed with teaching dogs to respond to various commands. While I wholeheartedly understand and support the pursuit of an obedient dog, in reality many ‘command obsessed' people are merely teaching a dog to misbehave until he hears a command. While it's great to have a dog that responds to various verbal commands, I prefer my dog to know what's expected of him in any given situation and behave the way I'd like him to by default. I don't want him to...
• Why Dogs Pull On Lead Pulling on lead is the number one complaint by dog owners everywhere! Recently, in a survey conducted by Urban Dog Training the number one problem that people feel they need help with most is teaching their dog to walk nicely on lead. The same is also true for our group classes and private consultations.Apart from making taking your dog for a walk extremely uncomfortable, dogs that pull on lead are a safety hazard. They can pull you into oncoming cyclists, skateboarders, aggressive dogs...
• Why Should I Train My Dog Many people make the mistake of assuming that by not training their dog that they are being kind to it, allowing it to do what it likes, when it likes. Nothing could be further from the truth. The life of a well-trained dog is a good one ...
• Why You Should Crate Train Your Dog When your puppy is unsupervised, whether indoors or outdoors, it is important to have somewhere safe in which to place him. Unattended puppies learn bad habits quickly and can cause damage to household items easily. Injures and even death can befall an unsupervised puppy in the blink of an eye. Puppies die from chewing on electrical cords, suffocate in plastic bags, drown in pools or ponds, get caught up in curtain cords and strangle to death. Keeping your puppy safe from harm is one of your...
• Why You Shouldnt Say No To Your Dog The word ‘No!' is the most over-used term in dog training - and yet surprisingly it has the least meaning to a dog. I often encounter clients who self righteously assure me that their dog ‘knows' what ‘No!' means. Often I reply that if he really does ‘understand' the word ‘No!' then why must they: a) Repeat it constantly b) Use an increasingly angry tone each timec) Often accompany it with physical punishmentd) Do something else to stop the dog...
• Why Your Dog Won't Come When Called Imagine calling your dog to ‘Come' and having your dog respond first time, no matter where he is or what he's doing! It CAN happen, using positive reinforcement methods. During the initial stages of training it is important to set your dog up for success, help him to make the right decision! ...