Choosing A Dog Breed

How To Choose A Dog Breed
So you're ready to bring a new family member into your household - you've decided to get a dog. You understand what is required to become a responsible dog owner - and are prepared to do it.
You're now in the process of choosing a dog breed that will suit your lifestyle, personality and requirements. This is an important long term decision for you and anyone you live with. It pays to put in some research to ensure you reach the right decision.
When you visualize the type of dog you picture yourself living with for the next 15 years the dog's breed is just one of the many factors you need to consider. It is a vital piece of the puzzle but merely because you pick out a breed with some qualities you desire does not automatically mean you will end up with your "perfect dog". What it does mean is that you will probably discover a breed of dog which is compatible to you and has the potential to be everything you had hoped for.
Jump To My List Of Popular Dog Breeds



The other just as crucial ingredients (along with the dog's breed) that combine to determine what type of dog you will share your life with are:
Where you purchase your dog from - always buy from a conscientious and reputable dog breeder if possible.
Which puppy you choose out of the litter.
The puppy socialization your dog's breeder and then you give to the dog.
The Obedience Training you provide - this includes things like household etiquette, leash training and the basic obedience commands like sit, stay, come, down etc...
The above ingredients all come together to determine the health, well-being, character and behavior habits of your dog.
When choosing a dog breed it's a good idea to talk with people who have first hand experience with the breed you are interested in. Your local Veterinarian, Dog Breeders and Obedience Trainers are a valuable source of information. Also if you visit any Dog Shows you can talk with the owners of just about any breed - this will make the picture clearer for you.
Right here on this page you can continue your dog breed research by taking the Dog Breed Recommender test and browsing through the List of Dog Breeds.
Choosing A Dog Breed -Some Questions To Ask Yourself
1. What size of dog breed do you favor? Size does matter but it doesn't necessarily mean that a big dog needs a big yard and a small dog breed is suited to apartment living. Some large breeds like the docile Greyhound are perfectly suited and easy to manage in a smallish yard.
2. Can you handle a dog that sheds heavily? Almost all dogs shed to some degree but some like Golden Retrievers, Pugs and Dalmations are shedding machines! Unless you are prepared to allocate some dog grooming time each day you may be better off with a breed that sheds minimally.
3. Is it important that your dog is good with children? Do some research to discover which dog breeds are best for children - there's lots of great options.

4. How important is it for your dog to be well trained? Some breeds are more suited, willing and capable if you plan to get involved in advanced obedience training - does this apply to you?
5. Will your dog be living with other animals and dogs? Many breeds find it difficult to happily coexist with other animals, while there are some dogs that love the company of others.
6. What energy level should your dog have? Do you long for a dog which lounges around on the couch with you or one who continually drops a ball at your feet looking for a game? It's important for the human-dog relationship that you share a similar level of energy to your dog. Please note that energy level comes down to each individual dog rather than by breed.
7. Is affordability an issue for you? Think not only of the initial purchase price but also feeding, grooming and health care - with some dogs the list goes on and on....
8. Do you want a dog who will guard you and your possessions or one that may just "sound the alarm" and act as a watchdog?
9. Is it likely that your lifestyle, commitments or requirements will change drastically in the next 12-15 years? Choosing a dog breed is a long term decision - it pays to look ahead for the good of the dog.
10. Will your dog be left home alone for long periods? Many dog breeds (such as Golden Retrievers and Chihuahuas) suffer badly from Separation Anxiety if left alone and bored for long periods. If your career demands a lot of your time you'll need to consider your choice of breed carefully - you may even want to reconsider your decision to get a dog at all.
11. Will your dog be an inside dog, an outside dog or a bit of both? Some breeds are simply not suited to being kept outside.
12. Will your climate present any problems to your chosen breed? Dogs that were bred for specific purposes and in one part of the world will often find it hard to climatize into other areas.
13. Does the breed you are interested in have any breed specific health problems? Again this is just a matter of doing some research and talking to people who would know. Common breed specific problems are hip dysplasia, various eye problems and skin conditions.
14. Do you have a secure and large enough property to safely confine your dog? Puppy proofing your home checklist.
15. How much and what kind of exercise are you prepared to give on a daily basis? This is an important one, if you are not prepared to properly exercise your dog the dog's energy will come out in other, destructive ways. Some dogs don't require much exercise at all - they'd rather curl up with you on the couch.
16. Will you be able to get your chosen breed in your area? It's no good falling in love with a certain breed only to find out that you cannot source a puppy in your area.
17. What is your level of experience with dogs? Some dog breeds are not recommended for first time dog owners - they will walk all over you!
18. What was the breed originally bred for? Many breeds still retain the strong drives and instincts which they were bred for. For this reason if you enjoy having a nice and tidy flower garden you may want to avoid some of the terrier breeds (they love to dig!).
19. Do you suffer from any dog related allergies? Hypoallergenic dog breeds such as Poodles, Bichon Frise and the Bedlington Terrier have a decreased tendency to cause allergic reactions.
The above questions are designed to make the process of choosing a dog breed a clear and straight forward process - if answered truthfully!

How To Train A Puppy

The arrival of a new puppy is an exciting time for any household. Your cute and cuddly little fluff ball will immediately command center stage from the whole family. Before long though, it becomes very clear that the new arrival means there's lots for you to do, and even more for him/her to learn.
Your young puppy is totally reliant and dependent on you to help him habituate and fit into our human, domesticated world. Your guidance and leadership will determine what path his life takes and what type of dog he will become. During puppyhood you play the lead role and are responsible for shaping the character, temperament and behavior habits that your dog will carry throughout his life. Your puppy's future is in your capable hands...

How To Train A Puppy - It's Not All Fun And Games!
It shocks some new puppy owners when their puppy acts like, well a puppy. The little critter is a pooping machine who chews, barks, digs, cries and much more! But we still love them anyway - we just need to provide them with some direction and boundaries to follow. If you're anything like me you probably just want to get your puppy off to the best possible start in life, and also set them up to thrive as adult dogs.
Bringing a young pup into our lives is a big responsibility and commitment to fulfill. Our puppies have a long list of requirements and deadlines that must be met for their well-being. Tasks like puppy house training, crate training, puppy socialization, leash training and basic obedience need to be addressed right from the very start.
How To Train A Puppy - The Positive Non Violent Way
It's important with all dog training but especially with young puppies to use lots of encouragement, praise and rewards (positive reinforcement) in your training. Start your puppy training sessions as soon as your little puppy arrives at your home. Set your puppy up to succeed, concentrate on developing desirable habits in your puppy and preventing undesirable behavior. It's much a better alternative to put your puppy on the right path from the start, rather than trying to correct established problem behaviors later on.
Keep your training sessions short, consistent and always have fun. The key to shaping your puppy's behavior is to start out with very easy commands, continue to build on these successes and apply heaps of repetition. Base your training sessions around trust and mutual respect rather than old school methods based on punishment and harsh corrections. In this environment you will find that your puppy loves his training sessions and his confidence will grow with each and every session.
Always remember that you are dealing with a very immature young animal. Be realistic, flexible, patient and always fair. Your puppy doesn't just automatically know this stuff! It's all new to him and he is bound to have the odd slip up and mistake along the way. Don't worry about these mistakes, just move on and do your best to prevent them in the future. Enjoy this fantastic time in your dogs life. His puppyhood is the time where you will lay the foundation for your puppy's life. It's also where you will develop, build and strengthen the special bond you will share with your dog for life.

How To Train A Puppy - The Essential Steps
1. Puppy House Training Potty training causes many puppy owners a world of pain. It doesn't have to be so difficult, I've had lots of success with this step-by-step outdoor puppy house training method.

2. Puppy Housebreaking - The Indoor Potty Follow this method to successfully housebreak your puppy indoors. This new improved method takes over from puppy paper training and dog litterbox training.

3. Puppy Crate Training The crate is an invaluable training tool for all puppy owners. It's a great way to establish good habits in your puppy and prevent undesirable and destructive ones. The crate is not a tool for punishment!

4. Puppy Socialization Puppy socialization is a crucial period for all puppies. It is the time where you build a close bond with your puppy and expose him to all the world has to offer. Puppy training classes are an important element when socializing your puppy.

5. Stop Excessive Barking Excessive barking is a huge problem but one that can be avoided with these training techniques.

6. Separation Anxiety In Dogs Separation anxiety affects a huge percentage of dogs and is the cause for many other behavioral problems. Follow these tips to stop your puppy from developing separation anxiety.

7. Stop Puppy Biting/Mouthing Puppy biting, nipping and mouthing is a perfectly natural stage for your dog to go through. You can manage the problem with these puppy mouthing tips.

8. Puppy Leash Training Training your puppy to walk nicely on a loose leash is important for safety reasons and also for the enjoyment of your walks together. Excellent for big dogs like Labradors!

9. Obedience Training For Puppies Start you puppy on these basic obedience lessons as soon as you can. Practice the sit, down, stay and more. These commands provide the foundation for more advanced commands later on.

10. Correcting Puppy Behavioral Problems Your puppy is bound to display at least one type of problem behavior. Discover the best way to stop the undesirable behavior and how to get your puppy back on the right track.

11. Puppy Clicker Training Clicker training is a very effective and gentle way to shape the behavior of your puppy. My dogs all love and respond brilliantly to clicker training techniques.

12. How To Feed Your Puppy What is the best puppy food for your young dog? - discover the best way to provide wholesome, well balanced puppy nutrition.

13. How To Choose A Great Dog Training School Puppy kindergarten and obedience training school are a great way to socialize and train your young puppy. Keep these tips in mind when choosing your dog training school or dog trainer.

CatTricks

Cats can and do learn how to do tricks. They can also learn to wear outfits and walk on a leash ;-). If your Cat, Kitten, or Kitty does tricks or even just a trick we would love for you to join in and tell us how you taught it. Or if you are just interested in teaching you Cat to do a few tricks, join us. It would also be great to learn to teach a cat to use the toilet (Potty Training ;-). This list is for all breeds of cats and mixed breeds of Cats. Please feel free to send photos of your cats, we would love to see them. Also please feel free to post pictures of your cats at the yahoo photo site. When joining we would love for you to introduce yourself and tell us about your cat(s). As I said all breed are welcome and encouraged to join. Abyssinian , American Bobtail , American Curl , American Shorthair , American Wirehair , Balinese , Birman , Bombay , British Shorthair , Burmese , Chartreux , Colorpoint Shorthair, Cornish Rex , Devon Rex , Egyptian Mau , European Burmese , Exotic , Havana Brown , Japanese Bobtail , Javanese , Korat , LaPerm , Maine Coon , Manx , Norwegian Forest Cat, Ocicat , Oriental , Persian , RagaMuffin , Ragdoll , Russian Blue , Scottish Fold , Selkirk Rex , Siamese , Siberian , Singapura , Somali , Sphynx , Tonkinese ,Turkish Angora , Turkish Van (If your cat breed is not listed, please forgive me). There are also several Trick Training books for cats in print, please tell us if you know of a good one. If your cat is doing cat agility we would love to hear all about it and see pictures. [more] Source: Yahoo

Cat Behavior Training

Cat behavior training can be very important for a well behaved cat. This training works to correct any behavioral problems you may have with your cat. This can include using the bathroom in unwanted areas, meowing constantly for attention, biting, clawing on your furniture, and any other problem behavior your cat may have. Before attempting to eliminate problem behavior, however, it is important to have your cat checked by the veterinarian to rule out any medical conditions that can be causing the behavior problems. Once your cat has been certified healthy with no medical conditions, then training to eliminate any problems in behavior can be undertaken.Cat behavior training may be necessary for kittens and older cats, because problem behavior can happen at any age in a cat, so it is important that behavior training is done as soon as you notice problem behavior, to effectively eliminate these behaviors. Remember to work on only one behavior at a time, however, to maximize the training effectiveness. It is a good idea to rate behavior according to how much of a problem each specific behavior actually is, and start on the worst one first. Some cats may meow and make noise because they want constant attention, while other cats may be aggressive towards people or other animals.It is important that you never hit your cat, for any reason, during cat behavior training or at any other time. Hitting and causing physical pain is never an effective training method, and this method will instead make behavior worse, and confuse and frustrate your cat as well. Patience and self control are needed to train any animal, whether it is a cat, a dog, or another species, and only training methods which use positive reinforcements should ever be used. Small pieces of cat treats, attention, and praise are far more effective than yelling or hitting, and these techniques will give the best and most effective results. Every pet owner wants the best for their pet and home, and behavior training in cats may help you accomplish this. Some behavior problems, like chewing on things, are not only destructive to your home and furnishings, but can also pose a significant danger to your cat, so these behaviors must be stopped.

Training Tips

Training Tips: "If you can spare 1 hour, 44 minutes and 33 seconds of your time, I'll show you how to quickly and easily train your dog...even if you've never had good luck training your dog in the past. Because that's how long my special dog training audio set is. And when you listen to it, you'll be BLOWN AWAY with how easy it is to transform your dog into a well behaved angel. Here's just some of what you'll discover... The silly mistake most people make when trying to train their dogs ...and how it can actually make training harder. The number one reason dogs do anything ...and how to tap into this amazing driving force behind their behavior. The simple 'anchor' method that cuts training time by as much as 71% ...and makes dogs obey you like they were operated by remote control! This breakthrough training system is guaranteed to eliminate dog problems forever ...in only 15 minutes a day. I know that's a bold promise and it might sound a little 'over the top' ...but it's true, and I can back up every word. Here Are Three Good Reasons To Believe Me When I Tell You Your Dog Will Be A Well Behaved Angel ONE: 543 other dog owners have tried my system, and not one of them has asked for a refund. TWO: In the past 8 weeks alone, over 2055 people have signed up to receive my exclusive Dog Training newsletter. THREE: I'm the only person in the training industry that'll let you keep his entire training system FREE if it doesn't work for you. (Nobody else in is willing to put their 'money where their mouth is' like this...) The bottom line is this: My system is 100% guaranteed to work for you ...just like it's worked for 543 other dogs before yours. If you've tried to train your dog in the past and had no luck, this will work for you. If you've paid to send your dog to obedience school an"
posted by Dog Training Resource Finder at 9:07 AM 37 comments

About your dog
Training your dog can be easy and fun for you and your dog ...if you use the right training methods. For example, you know those dogs you see on TV? Well, you can use the exact same methods to train YOUR dog that the pro trainers use when they're training dogs for television and films. It's an interesting method and you might be surprised at how it works. Here's what it's NOT about: 1. Scolding your dog. 2. Hitting your dog. 3. Punishing your dog in any way Here's what it IS about: 1. Playing with your dog and having fun! 2. Making your dog actually WANT to obey you! 3. Using the natural instincts ALL dogs have to quickly and easily get YOUR dog trained and acting like a little angel. The reason this is so effective is because it's based on the number one thing your dog craves ... YOUR LOVE. Right now, almost 100% of your dog's behavior (both good and bad) is a result of getting your attention ...or trying to get your attention. In fact, almost all "problem" behavior with dogs can be traced back to one thing: RECEIVING ATTENTION AT THE WRONG TIME I'll give you an example: First, let's agree that your dog craves your attention. OK. Have you ever had your dog jump all over you? You most likely looked down and said something like "Down, Buddy! ...Down!". And then maybe you took your loving dog's paws off of you, placed him on the ground, and petted him. Well, here's what's going on in your dog's head right now ...even if you're saying "No!" ... and scolding him. Your dog is thinking, "WOW! EVERY TIME I jump up on him I get attention! This is great! ...I THINK I'LL JUMP ON HIM MORE OFTEN!" ...And the cycle continues. But the good news is: 1. This problem is easy to fix 2. You're not alone. Most other dog owners make the same mistake :-) Be on the lookout for a new issue of this newsletter in a few days, where I'll answer reader questions and show you an easy fix that'll stop your dog's jumping for good. Talk soon, Dean Rankin P.S. I just found an excellent site about dogs,dog training, and breed info. It's at http://www.dogseekdirectory.com/