Reality shows like the Dog Whisperer have led many people to want a well-trained obedient dog. Who would not want an animal that is easy to walk, non-aggressive to others and listens to your commands? The only problem is not everyone can or even should try to train their own dog, some can and succeed while others will end up making the problem worse! So the question today is should you hire a professional to train your dog?

Experience

The first thing to consider is your experience level. Have you had many dogs over your lifetime or is this your very first? Those who have spent the majority of their life with dogs may have a better overall understanding of the training process than a new owner may. This does not mean that you might not need some pointers from a professional along the way, you might, especially if you have a hard to train breed.

Breed

Your next order of business is to understand the breed of dog you have. Some breeds are harder to train than others are and you may need some pointers, even if you have had a dog since you were five years old. Do a little research on your dog breed, before you bring the puppy home and decide quickly if you think your particular dog requires a trained professional.

Patience

Where is your patience meter sitting? Training a dog takes a good deal of time, effort and above all patience. If you are the type of person who has no patience whatsoever you should probably enlist the help of a professional dog trainer. When you lose your cool with a dog, you could be setting back your training by months, if not all together. Should you fall into this category of dog owner you will want to find a dog-training program that teaches you to teach them while maintaining your composure.

Seriousness of Issues

If you are dealing with serious issues such as dog or people aggression, you definitely should contact a training specialist. These types of issues can lead to many problems for you as the dog owner and you will want someone who specializes in this type of behavior. An aggressive dog leaves you vulnerable to legal problems and should be addressed swiftly and thoroughly.

DIY

When you are dealing with minor issues that you feel confident you can work with without losing your mind, you are in a good position to train your dog. Potty training, sit, stay and roll over are all simple dog-training issues that you can handle without necessarily enlisting the help of a professional. There is literally tons of information available to teach you how to teach your dog.

Conclusion

The number one thing you should remember about training a dog is that physical punishment is absolutely out of the question. Striking a pet is not only bad training it is abuse and should be avoided at all costs. If you hire a professional and they use any type of physical punishment fire them immediately and ask for a refund. The truth is there are not really any bad dogs out there, only poorly trained ones; give your dog the best chance possible for being the ideal pet.

Article by Kelly Marshall of Oh My Dog Supplies, your top source for stainless steel dog bowls online.
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Dog aggression towards children could be very serious if not tackled as we fear for our child’s safety. It can be linked to aggression to other types of people, or can be seen in dogs who are otherwise very friendly.

It can be seen:

• in the home. The dog displays unwanted behavior towards the children within the family

• with visitors to the home. The dog shows unwanted behavior to children who visit.

• outside. The dog is unhappy when walking past children. Unwanted behavior varies but will include nervousness, attempts to get away aggression ranging from tension and growling to attempts to bite.

Possible causes:

• Nervousness.

• Lack of socialisation. Children behave differently from adults and it is important that dogs learn what to expect.

• Bad experiences. Children can be rough and hurtful, whether or not they mean it.

• It could be that the dog objects to something, such as being handled more roughly around the tail, but adults know to read the signs and avoid this, whereas children are less observant.

Prevention:

In the home

• Do not leave children and dogs alone together. Supervise all interactions.

• Ensure that the children play calm and controlled games with your dog, under supervision.

• Avoid rough and tumble and highly exciting chase games which can get out of control.

• If children are visiting, be even more vigilant.

• Notice any warning signs and take precautions. Do not wait for the dog to show severe aggression. Notice any tension. Always take notice of a growl, and do not assume that your dog will not take it any further.

• Teach the rules to the children. They must always allow your dog his own space and peace and quiet when he wants it. They must be gentle and not tease or hurt him.

• Separate children and dogs at certain times, such as when the dog is eating or wants to sleep, or when the children are playing their own games.

Outside

• Socialise. Ensure that your dog has good experiences with children of all ages.

What to do if problems have arisen:

• For safety’s sake, keep your dog away from children.

• Seek advice immediately. Do not take any chances.

This problem is especially seen in:

• Dogs who are not familiar with children.

• Dogs in homes where the children are allowed to tease the dog.

• Dogs who have been under-socialised.

• Gentle, timid dogs who find children frightening.

The author has been writing articles for several years. Check out his latest website on cheap gym equipment which gives people help and advice to find the best deals for great brand gym equipment such as universal fitness equipment.

Dog Behavior – How To Cope With Dog Aggression To Other People

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/dog-behavior-how-to-prevent-dog-aggression-towards-children-1535475.html

Humans are supposed to be in charge of their dogs.  They are supposed to be the leader of the pack in their relationship.  The human dominates the dog, and the dog is meant to obey the human, or be submissive to the human.  This is the nature of the human/dog relationship.  When the dog is dominant in the relationship, it is contrary to what it is meant to be.  When this happens, you need to take necessary steps to correct aggressive dog behavior.

An aggressive dog is not a happy, well adjusted dog.  He can also cause you a lot of stress and embarrassment.  Aggressive dogs are hard to take to the park or even for a walk without creating trouble.  They are a nuisance when you have people over, as they might jump on them and become very annoying.  In short, you are putting up with a lot of behavior that is stressful and embarrassing at least, and which can also become a huge problem if the dog acted out and injured someone.

All aggressive dogs don’t necessarily have the most obvious signs of aggression, such as biting and growling.  But they might be demonstrating some more subtle signs. Aggressive dog behavior tends to escalate with time.  You should become aware of any minor signs of aggression, which could in time become a real problem.

There are many demonstrations of dog aggression which sometimes go unnoticed or unattended.  Some of these behaviors include:

• Jumping or putting their paws on you
• Barking or “talking” to you when they want something
• Pulling you on the lead and “taking you for a walk”
• Demanding and nudging you to pet him or play with him

Small dogs get away with even more aggressive behavior because of their size and weight.  They are not perceived as harmful when they pull you or jump on you or sleep on your pillow.  These are all signs of aggression.  In the dog world, they may be small, but they are still aggressive, and still a potential problem for you.

So what are your options?

You could hire a trainer.  Besides being expensive he would only solve half of the problem, as he would only train the dog.  You see, both the dog and you need training.  You need to learn how to become the leader and take charge, so that the dog will obey you.  There will be things you will need to learn how to lead effectively.

You should stop aggressive dog behavior so you can enjoy your dog a lot more and have a much better relationship with him.  You will both be happier if you learn to be his leader.  You will also put an end to the stress and embarrassment of having an aggressive dog who could potentially also harm someone.

Here is the #1 recommended method of dog training which has helped hundreds of thousands with their dog’s aggressive behavior.

This method is guaranteed to help you and your dog with his aggressive dog behavior.

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