Potty training is one of the most important things your puppy must learn. Common sense should tell you why it is the most vital part of raising a puppy and has to be done consistently to be effective. Apart from the maintenance of your household hygiene, trained dogs are happy dogs.

There are numerous ways to potty train your puppy, depending on your circumstances and dog type. Paper training is suitable for puppies that have not been vaccinated yet and for those who live in high raise apartments where access to a garden by the dog itself is almost impossible.

Crate training, suitable for urban living dogs make use of the dog’s instinctive nature of not messing up their sleeping area to train the dog to control its bladder and relieve only when he is out of the crate.
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Leash and collar training can be very frustrating for leash training dog owners, but it does not have to be so difficult. By doing some research, and following a few leash training dog tips, the experience of leash training your dog can be much less frustrating. The following paragraphs will provide some helpful tips to follow for leash training dog owners.

The first leash training dog tip is to remember that generally with a leash based obedience training method, the dog is first taught a behavior with the leash. When the dog displays he knows the command, the leash is then used to correct the dog for not obeying. With this method of obedience training, the leash training dog will come to understand that the leash is the main form of controlling and communicating with him.
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One of the first fun activities many owners will try with their dogs is playing fetch. Usually, the owner will take their dog to an open area and throw a ball or soft toy expecting the dog to go collect it and bring it back . What usually happens is the dog will stand and look and you or it will go off after the object you just threw and either start chewing on it or the dog will carry on running. Other times the dog will come back without the object expecting you to throw another one.

The fetch command is a fairly easy one and can be quickly taught to puppies and young dogs but can take a little more time with older dogs. Different breeds of dogs will learn quicker and some breeds like labradors and retrievers may take little to no training at all.
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Clicker Training, is a training method created on operant conditioning which comes from the fact that the reinforcer used a small mechanical noisemaker that produces clicking sound called the clicker. Clicker training can be used to train animals other than dogs like horses, cats, pigeons, etc.

The real difficulty when training a dog, is in communicating accurately and at the right time when the dog is behaving correctly. Traditionally when a dog did behave correctly, you praise him only after he move to some other behavior which may not be a good behavior and thus strengthening something that you might not want. Besides the precise timing of the communication, your tone, loudness of your voice, pronunciation and speed may send confusing signal to your dog.
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In today’s society, with dog being commonly referred to as “man’s best friend”, many methods of dog training are now available for dog owners and dog trainers. Professional dog training services are available, but can be costly and it will also take away the bond between you and your dog. This has lead pet owners everywhere to seek out aids, to help them train their dog at home. These aids include:

dog training book reference
electronic dog training collars
electronic fences
dog training video reference
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Until the creation of the Certification Council for Pet Dog Trainers in 2001, there was no nationally available certification process for dog trainers. The CCPDT’s certification program is the first national certification for dog trainers.

Many schools teach dog trainers and offer certification for their specific programs. These certificates, therefore, reflect the teachings and quality of a specific school. Other organizations offer take-home tests for “certification.” These tests are not monitored, nor are the testing processes standardized.

Candidates who pass the exam earn the title Certified Pet Dog Trainer and may use the designation, “CPDT,” after their names. As creators of the examination, the task force members have also earned the use of the CPDT designation.

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So you are thinking about some dog school training for your pup, but with all the training schools out there which one is right for you and your dog. Below are some general points and steps to take when choosing a dog school training program.

1) Make up a short list of dog schools consisting of schools in your area and ones you may have heard about from friends etc. Now go to these schools and ask to sit in on a dog training session, most should oblige but if they don’t you can cross them off your list right then. While at each dog school keep a close eye on the training methods used and how the dogs are responding. You will want to find a method that both you and your dog will be comfortable with. If time permits try to take in 2 training sessions, one at the beginning of the program and one near the end, that way you can watch how some of the dogs have progressed.
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Do you like dogs? Do they like you back?

Well, in that case, maybe YOU have what it takes to make it in the ruff and kibble world of canine coaching. Maybe. But before you start barking up this career tree, it might be beneficial to get a little information first. The exiting world of dog training covers several areas of expertise, so consider which dog track you want to take.

So, like, what do I need to know? Isn’t it just “Sit, Heel, Stay”?

I am so glad you asked. Dog training encompasses much more than simple submission commands. Yes, a career in dog training can and does involve obedience training, but it can also delve much deeper. For instance, you could become an Animal Behaviorist, or a Behavioral Consultant. These professionals burrow into Rover’s psyche, working to dig up the long buried bones of his past. Rather than flea the past, they use it to see what makes him tick (Ooh, that one even made ME groan).
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There are a number of reasons to pursue professional dog training for your dog from the very beginning. Learning proper commands and behaviors is easier than trying to unlearn bad habits later, and will likely save you a lot of frustration in the long run. There are many websites and books in which professional dog training reveals his secrets, to help you get the advice you need, when you need it.

Behaviors that can become problematic if allowed to develop unimpeded include:
- digging
- barking
- jumping up on people
- biting
- chewing
- fence jumping
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If you are looking to get your first puppy or your first dog or if you have a dog that has a particular problem then you may want to look at using the services of a professional dog trainer. A trained dog trainer will have a great many tricks under his or her sleeve that can help in even the most difficult of circumstances.

For the first time dog owner, a dog trainer will not simply train your dog to perform the actions you want because it will be you who will take on this mantle when you return home. For this reason, a good dog trainer will teach you to how to train your dog. However, there are a number of dog trainers available who can help with training you and your pet. You will want to find the best available and the first decision you should make is whether to have one on one dog training or group sessions.
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