The truth is there are so many dog training schools that offer their services to anyone willing to pay them. The problem though is not all schools will meet your standards or your expected guarantees. Here are some points of considerations when trying to choose a good school for training your dog.
Reputation
Reputable has different meanings to different people- for some it is the capacity to yield good results regardless of the means, for others it is the popularity of the school itself which makes it highly recommended. Knowing the school by reputation is a good indicator as to the popularity of the school and the training methods used. It also is a good indication how many others have set their trust in them.
To find a school with excellent reputation you could ask around or search through websites. Veterinarians usually have several names of schools and trainers to give you, your dog breeder could also provide you with some references and ASPCA or the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals can provide a list of registered names that are sure to use humane methods approved by the organization.
Methods of Training
Any self-respecting training school uses responsible dog agility training methods. The school must have equal concern to your dog as you do, treating your dog one of their own. Beware of schools that employ trainers who still use old training methods such as yelling or hurting the dogs for there exists many of this kind.
A good school should use humane techniques that promote positive training and limits the use of risky negative reinforcement techniques. The former covers praises and the use of dog treats in recognition of the desirable behavior while the negative reinforcement techniques include practices like alpha rolling, choking and yelling.
Sufficient knowledge
The knowledge on training of the schools must range from the oldest unreliable method to the latest training techniques for dogs. Having extensive orientation in this field would optimize the capacity of your dog to learn since it would be exposed to all possible trainings to which it could respond well.
In researching for training schools, secure information regarding the latest seminars that the trainers attended to and the up-to-date facilities they have. Remember that you would pay hefty amounts to get your dog trained, it is but proper that you and your dog receive proper compensation for your investment.
The school's exposure to widespread training is another thing that you should keep in mind. There are schools that claim of specialization while others advertise that they have sufficient knowledge on all fields of dog training. Your choice should depend largely on the scope of knowledge the training school has.
Classroom Set Up
There are two different classes of rooms setup providing private lessons. The main advantage of the group class is that it promotes socialization and good behavior in the presence of other dogs. Also, when the owner trains alongside his dog, the owner could benefit from exposure to other handlers' mistakes and techniques.
At the same time, these private sessions could not yield these advantages. There is also a good chance that the transfer of learning and obedience to command given by persons other than the trainer is poor.
It is easy to pick any dog training school but choosing the right one for your dog could prove to be a tedious process.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
How To Choose Dog Training Schools
Why Is A Wide Leather Dog Collar Right For Your Dog?
All dogs need a dog collar because it's usually required by law. You might like the look of wide leather dog collars. But is this the right kind of collar for your dog? You need to take in mind your dog's physique, temperament and any training issues he or she might have. You might discover that the best dog collar isn't a wide leather dog collar at all.
If Your Dog Pulls
Some dog trainers will recommend a wide leather dog collar to help discourage dogs from pulling strongly on the lead. This is better than using a choke chain (which can often cause spinal damage in dogs) and far better than a dog shock collar (which should be banned). Stay far away from any trainer who advises the use of shock collars.
But, in the end, no gadget will help your dog stop pulling, not even a wide leather dog collar. For example Labradors need patient and persistent training to get them to stop. When they pull, you stop and do not go any further. You only walk when the dog is behaving. It's hard to do, but it's the only sure cure.
This writer has a strong pulling dog. I just got used to it. I did teach her to stop and look back at me on command. The pulling actually makes her seem a little wild and kept undesirable people away. In order to keep her from choking, I attach her lead to a chest harness instead of her collar (which is nylon and not a wide leather dog collar).
How Big Is Your Dog?
Wide leather dog collars need to be on dogs with necks big enough to wear them comfortably. Your dog might not be the biggest in the world, but if he has a massive neck, then perhaps it will take a wide leather dog collar. Breeds that can take wide leather dog collars include Mastiffs, Bullmastiffs, Neapolitan Mastiffs, any of the bulldog breeds and some Great Danes.
Special Occasion
Genuine leather is beautiful and durable, but is also very expensive and can be difficult and time-consuming to clean. You might also have a dog that can’t resist the smell of genuine wide leather dog collars and decides to eat it. Not all dogs will eat leather, but quite a lot will. Also, if any animal-rights activists are nearby, you will get the evil eye from them for using genuine leather.
You might want to save the wide leather dog collar for special occasions such as going to the dog photographer and have a nylon collar for everyday wear.
The Correct Dogs Diet Will Help Its Outputs
If you know anything about computers, then you will know what term GIGO means, it stands for garbage in and garbage out. So now you ask what has this to do with your dogs diet? Well your dog certainly is not a walking, tail wagging, barking computer, but your dogs diet definitely effects it in the same way. What food you feed your pet will eventually come out in the end.
The diet you feed your dog will have a considerable effect in its outputs. There are of course other factors that play a roll in this, such as nerve, illness and the weather. You can tell a lot about the health of your pet, by the outputs they produce.
Cleaning up after your pet is not the most pleasant job, but it is a necessary one that we all have to do. Being selective with your dogs diet, will make this task more pleasant and a easier job to do.
If you feed your dog a diet that is high in fillers, then the excrement will be large in size and often runny. Thus, making it hard to pick up. This is not recommended to do, but if you give your pet leftovers from the table, then when you go to clean up it will not be nice to do. This is because the outputs of a pet eating an unhealthy diet is just plain messy, smelly and large.
To many treats, such as rawhide or bones will change your dogs stool. You need to monitor how treats affect your dogs outputs, this way you can determine how healthy the snack really is for your hound.
If you feed your dog a balanced healthy nutritious diet, that is of high quality, then you will notice a difference in the outputs. Cleaning up after your pet may not be at the top of your list of things to do, but it will be a far easier task and much more tolerable to do, if your dogs diet is healthy and nutritious.
Always consult your veterinarian before you decide what type of diet is best for your dog. If you decide on dry food, then look for one that lists meat as the first ingredient. This way you will reduce the amount of fillers that your pet consumes.
Feeding your pet on a regular schedule is important. When you are deciding what your dogs diet will be do not simply focus on what you are feeding your pet, as its just as important to focus on when you feed your dog. If you feed your dog at consistent mealtimes, then you will be far more able to predict your dogs potty schedule. This also plays an important role when you are house training your pet.
By helping your pet eat a balanced healthy nutritious diet, then you are taking the first and most important step to maintaining a healthy diet for your dog. Your dogs diet, when you monitor it, will keep things running smoothly, it will also minimize outputs and mess. But be warned about to many treats in your dogs diet. By knowing what goes into your pet, will reduce the garbage and mess coming out.
Choosing the right Dogs Diet is not always easy, for further free information and advice try visiting Dog Diet Tips