Image via Wikipedia

If you are a hands-on, sporty type person, then a dainty lap dog might not be the right choice for you. Likewise, a rambunctious, energetic hound dog is not going to be a happy pup just sitting quietly at your feet while you knit. Finding the right dog breed for your lifestyle will not only ensure your own happiness, but the dog’s as well. He will become part of your family, after all, and you want him to be the right fit.

All puppies are cute; little roly-poly creatures that fall over themselves and snuggle with you when they are tired. But, just like your babies grew up to be defiant, mouthy teens, a puppy will grow to be a poorly trained adolescent dogs if they are not dealt with properly. Although good training is necessary, it is not the only consideration. Moving a mastiff into a two-bedroom bungalow is not going to work out, for you or for the dog, and a teacup poodle may feel overwhelmed in a large, expansive mansion. Keep in mind what size your puppy your dog will grow up to be, and by pass the ones that are not realistic for your home, no matter how cute the big sweeties can be.

Consider your family make up and lifestyle before you start looking at pets. If you have a newborn child, it might not be the best time to consider getting a new puppy- you are busy enough and might not have the right amount of time to properly train your four-legged addition. An improperly trained puppy may turn into a poorly behaved, bigger dog, so wait until you have more time to devote to him and the energy to keep up with it. The fallacy that the dog and baby should grow up together is a very dangerous one to buy into. Do you want a gentle dog that is sturdy enough to be handled by inquisitive little hands without knocking your toddler down? Consider a pug, one of the gentlest and most forgiving of the dog breeds. But, for safety sake, never trust the loving nature of any dog over your own vigilance.

Need a jogging or walking partner? Consider an upbeat, energetic breed like the small, Jack Russell terrier or the larger labs. Want a cuddle buddy instead? Then a sweet natured, compact Scotty is a good choice for the small dog lover and the golden retriever is the star standard for those who prefer the big dogs to love. (Goldens are also great all around for being gentle with children, and walking partners. As long as you call them sweetie pie or big wuvvie, a golden will do just about anything you ask.) Choose wisely, a dog will be part of your family for a very long time and a part of your heart for even longer.

If you search the words "most popular dog breeds" on the web, you will find a large number of listings- from the different categories of dogs and the breeds within them, to the most popular dog breeds for families with children. Narrow down what exactly you are looking for and that should help quite a bit. Perhaps you want to know what the most popular toy dog breeds are, or the most popular hunting dog breeds. Either way, you will be able to pull up the right list and see exactly where your favorite dog breed places.

Everyone has their favorite and least favorite dog breed. It does not matter how or why they came to their conclusions, they just have and that’s that. For them, there is no convincing them that the husky is a perfectly fine dog, if it is handled properly, or that the Yorkie can sometimes be more trouble than they are really worth. Some people will dismiss entire breeds of dogs simply based on what they know about one representative of the club, a practice that is not fair, by the way. Dog breeds gain and lose popularity based on many things, including movies that feature them, or which breed is winning at the major dog shows. But, regardless of all of that, there are some dog breeds that make it to the tops of nearly every list, the diehard favorites that people flock to, year after year. Those breeds include:  the Labrador retriever, the Golden Retriever, the Beagle, the Yorkshire Terrier, and the Poodle.

Of course there are the so-called designer dogs- the mixed breed dogs that hopefully get the best of both worlds. Popular mixes are: the Puggle, a mix of the ever–popular Pug and the Beagle, the Labradoodle, a mix of a Lab and a Poodle and the Cockapoo, a mix of a Cocker Spaniel and a Poodle. These dogs are not registered, but still very popular, as evidenced by their steadily growing numbers.

Jerry J. Jansen
http://jsdigitalsales.com
http://qualitybinocular.com
http://qualitybinocularsstore.com
http://elitebinoculars.com
http://elitegpsnavigation.com
http://eliterangefinders.com
http://elitespottingscopes.com
http://elitetelescopes.com
http://nikon-digital-camera-accessories.com
http://websitesbyjs.com
http://jerryjansen.name

If you enjoyed this post, then make sure you subscribe to my RSS Feed.

Post if you have any comments.

Follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/jerryjjansen

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.

Read more about stop barking dogs and dog training barking issues by visting www.myonlinedogtrainingtips.com/ />

Access practical ideas in the topic of house training dogs – this is your personal guide.

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. Never allow your dog to chew on your towels, socks, shoes, or clothing. Use bitter apple to discourage these behaviors.

4. NEVER HIT YOUR DOG FOR MISBEHAVING. Instead use the tone of your voice and a collar/leash to teach and make corrections.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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.

Read more about dog training barking and how to stop a dog from barking issues by visting www.myonlinedogtrainingtips.com/ />

Get useful ideas for house train dog – your individual guide.

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.

Read more about dog training barking and how to stop a dog from barking issues by visting www.myonlinedogtrainingtips.com/ />

Get helpful hints in the sphere of house training dogs – your personal tips store.