Separation anxiety is problem that is common for most dogs to develop. It is considered to be an anxiety disorder, that happens when the dog finds himself isolated bring on a state of intense panic brought on by separation from his owner(s). For example it can occur when an owner leaves for work in the morning, the dog is develops a condition of nervous anxiety which will intensify very quickly.

Dogs require plenty of company and social interaction to keep them happy and secure. They are social animals just like most humans. Dog do not like to be left alone for long periods of time, but some dogs and even some breeds fare much worse than others, and these are the dogs most prone to suffer from separation anxiety.

It is known that some dog breeds can be genetically predisposed towards separation anxiety, something to take into consideration when deciding which breed to choose from particularly if you’re going to be absent for long stretches of time. Some of these breeds include Weimaraners, Springer Spaniels, German Shepherds, and Airedales.

There are a number of contributing causes to dog’s separation anxiety, for instance dogs from shelters are more likely to develop separation anxiety, since ‘shelter dogs’ have experienced quite a bit of trauma. For instance if they have been abandoned by previous owners and therefore find it hard to trust new owners.

Sometimes dogs that were separated from their mothers and siblings too early have been shown to be prone to separation anxiety. An example of this are puppies from pet-stores since they are usually taken from their mothers as early as age 8 weeks, and then they are confined to a small glass box in the pet-store for up to two months. This early weaning, along with lack of exercise and affection from their mothers, will likely be very traumatic for the dog.

The biggest cause of separation anxiety in dogs is neglect, since your dog need your companionship if he is to be happy and content. Neglect inevitably occurs, if you are separated from your dog more than you’re present in his life. The dog will learn from your routine when you are leaving the house. The dog then starts to become anxious, following you from room to room, whining and crying.

These are the symptoms of separation anxiety.  When you’ve left, the anxious behavior manifests itself within a half an hour, with the dog incessantly barking, scratching and digging at windows and doors to try to escape and find you. He might chew inappropriate items, or urinate and defecate inside the house. Some dog have been known to engage in self-mutilation by licking or chewing the skin until it’s raw.

Many owners on their return, will encounter a dog that is excessively excited, and will leap around in a frenzy of delight. But this is misleading because this behavior is actually an indication of a psychological disorder. You are not seeing the behavior while you are gone.

There are a few things you need to do to minimize your dog’s separation anxiety. First exercise your dog enough to wear him out. The longer you think you will be gone for the day, the more exercise your dog should get before you leave. You dog must be distracted from his boredom, loneliness, and anxiety by giving him an alternative to whining, crying and pacing.

If you are interested in finding out more information when it comes to dealing with your dog’s separation anxiety, you might will want to check out Secrets to Dog Training. It’s a great learning tool for anyone who wants to learn how to deal constructively with their dog’s problem behaviors. It deals in great detail with all of the common dog behavior problems, and there’s a great section on obedience commands and tricks.

Want to know the secret to solving your dog’s separation anxiety? – click here!

House training puppies will require 5 things:  time, vigilance, patience, commitment and of course love.  But this really doesn’t have to take a  long period of time to accomplish.  It is just a matter of investing some of your time into it, keeping in mind that the  more time you spend the shorter the period of time will be.

House Training Puppies Tip 1 – Develop a Schedule of Puppy Training

You will have more success in house training puppies if you take him outside on a consistent and frequent schedule. You will need get your puppy to learn that the area for relieving himself is outside in the yard, not in your home.  This is something you will need to teach him as soon as he arrives in your home.

Take your dog outside if you think he may need to relieve himself, doing this during the first two months of so after your puppy has arrived.  It is during this period that it is critical in being able to successfully house train your puppy. He should be taken out every hour, 5 minutes after eating or drinking, after playtime or exercise.  He should also be taken out is if he becomes excited, or right before bed, and also  immediately after he wakes up in the morning.

House Training Puppies Tip 2 – Praise Your Puppy When He Does Right

Praise your puppy when he does something right, like relieving himself outside. Do not say ‘no’ when he does make mistakes or has accidents.  A puppy is too young to understand and it can set back your house training efforts.  If your puppy does something right, let him know by praising him for it.

House Training Puppies Tip 3 – Putting Your Puppy on a Regular Feeding Schedule

It is important to set up a regular feeding schedule for your puppy because most puppies usually need to be fed three or four times a day, depending on their age. Puppies usually have to go outside soon after waking up and within 30 to 40 minutes after they eat.  By feeding your puppy at the same time each day this will help lead to him being able to relieve himself at more consistent or  predictable times.  You should also plan any outside trips around these patterns.

House Training Puppies Tip 4 – Always Watch Your Puppy at all Times

When you simply can not  watch your puppy close enough, he needs to be confined to an area that is just small enough so that he will be less likely to defecate there. You can also consider crate training your puppy by using the crate to confine him, since temporary confinement to a crate is intended to inhibit your puppy from defecating in the space he is confined in.  Crate training helps a puppy to develop better bladder and bowel control, by learning to hold it and go at convenient scheduled times.

House Training Puppies Tip 5 – Always be Patience in Your Puppy Training

Be sure to never scold or punish your puppy for his mistakes and accidents. Remember as your puppy gets older, the more he will be able to control his bodily functions. At some point your puppy will have developed enough control over his bladder and bowels that he will be able to keep from going and hold it for longer periods of time. Your puppy need to accomplish this in his own time. Keep in mind that most puppies are not reliably house trained until they are at least 6 months old.

Want to know the secret to house training puppies – click here!

Training a Labrador puppy  will be easier on you and you will find it less of a struggle if you do it the right way. You should see to it that you take your Labrador puppy to be taught through a proper obedience program, as this will give you the necessary confidence that will enable you to train your Labrador puppy to be a truly great dog and companion.

Below are 5 Labrador puppy training tips that can help you in train your Lab.

Labrador Puppy Training Tip 1. Housebreaking – First thing to do is get a crate. Most of the time if a puppy starts his training in a crate can accept the crate very well.  A puppy should never be allowed to run loose in the house.  If there is no one around to watch the puppy, he should be put in the crate.

Next your Labrador puppy will need to learn is that his bathroom is outside in the yard, not inside your home. He will need understand this beginning from the first day he arrives in your home.  You will have a perfectly housebroken pet by following these steps:

Take your dog outside if you think he may need to relieve himself, doing this during the first 8 to 9 weeks after your Lab puppy has arrived, since this period is critical in insuring successful housebreaking. You should take him out every hour, 5 minutes after eating or drinking, after playtime or exercise.  Other times for taking him out is if he becomes excited, right before bed, and of course, immediately after he wakes up in the morning.

Labrador Puppy Training Tip 2. Obedience class for your Lab – Enroll your Labrador puppy in obedience classes as soon as he can  meet the age requirement. The proper obedience training that you would receive from a qualified dog training  instructor will give you the tools you will need continue to train your dog.  The end result will be that you will have a Labrador puppy who will be a well-trained dog that can take direction from you.

Labrador Puppy Training Tip 3. Always strive to be Consistent with Your Labrador Puppy Training  – Consistency is required for Labrador puppy training. You should be using one word commands and the same hand signals when you are training a Labrador puppy. The more repetitious you are, the faster your dog will learn. Also, don’t forget to take breaks during the training and try to make it fun for your dog, since dogs are known to have rather limited attention spans.  Be sure to reward him when he obeys.  Remember, Labs like most dogs will eat anything, but they really love their treats.

Use one-word dog training commands, as one-word commands will be easier for your Labrador puppy to understand in the beginning.  You should start your training by teaching your Labrador puppy the ’sit’ command.  Use the same one-word dog training command consistently or the puppy will not understand the command. For example, say, “Sit” instead of “Sit down.” Or sometimes “Sit” and sometimes “Sit down.” Always be consistent with your dog training command terms.

Labrador Puppy Training Tip 4. Employing Correct Discipline in Your Dog – There are going to be times when you need to enforce discipline in your Labrador puppy training. But disciplining your dog should not include shouting at your dog. When your dog does something wrong, look him in the eye and use a firm tone of voice to say “No”. Show him how to do what you asked, and then use praise with him to help him understand why he is being praised.  Discipline is important during puppyhood, but remember never hit your Labrador puppy!

Labrador Puppy Training Tip 5. Giving Your Dog Praise – Every time your Labrador puppy listens to your commands and obeys them and does them right you praise him.  He will like hearing the praise, and he will just become  more devoted over time and be even more determined to do things in a way that pleases you.

Want to know the secret to training a Labrador puppy – click here!

One thing to keep in mind before you begin any basic dog obedience training, is to understand that most dogs have an attention span of no more than ten minutes. This is why any training routines you have with your dog or puppy should take place within this ten minute period.

Achieving good basic dog obedience training is in getting your dog or puppy to understand and obey the 5 basic dog obedience training commands. These commands are Sit, Stay, Heel, Come, and Down.
You should also be sure to reward your dog for any correct behavior and keep your basic dog obedience training a positive experience for both of you. Make it as much fun as possible.

In order for your dog to be able to achieve these commands you need to work with your dog each day to reinforce basic dog training skills and behaviors. This is accomplished by using the same dog training commands and hand signals each time.

Want to know the secret to successful basic dog training – click here!

The main object of basic dog obedience training is in getting your dog or puppy to understand and obey the 5 basic dog obedience training commands.  These commands are Sit, Stay, Heel, Come, and Down.

Here we will look at Basic Dog Obedience Training Command 4 – Come

Teaching your dog the ‘come’ command is very important as it can provide a solid foundation for trust between you and your dog.  It can also potentially save his life.

Begin training your dog in the command by putting your dog on a leash and bring along some tasty treats that your dog is known to like.

When your dog is a short distance from you, crouch down, open your arms and say ‘Come!’.  He should get excited and come over to you. If not, gently pull him towards you using the leash. When he begins to come on his own, you can stop pulling the leash, and encourage him, and then reward him with a tasty treat, and be sure to praise.

Want to know the secret to successful basic dog training – click here!

The main object of basic dog obedience training is in getting your dog or puppy to understand and obey the 5 basic dog obedience training commands.  These commands are Sit, Stay, Heel, Come, and Down.

Here we will look at Basic Dog Obedience Training Command 5 – Down

The down command is a very useful basic dog obedience command to teach your dog. This is another command that can save a dog’s life.  This command should be taught right after your dog has mastered the ’sit’ command.

As with the other commands treats are an important dog obedience training tool.

First get your dog’s attention by saying his name. Once you have his attention and is already in the sitting position place the treat near his nose allowing him to sniff it.  When your dog starts to nibble on the treat, lower the treat towards the ground, until the dog is in the down position.  When he is laying down, release the treat.

Repeat over and over in short and sharp training sessions until your dog begins to understand the action.

Want to know the secret to successful basic dog training – click here!