Obedience training class

Dogs are amazing animals that can be trained to do all kinds of things. From hunting to sniffing out controlled substances, tracking people and animals, and serving as a blind person’s eyes, these intelligent and loyal creatures can learn a lot. Of course, when it comes to your puppy, you’d really just be happy if he was housebroken, didn’t chew things and did what you told him to, right?

Handing your pet over to someone else to train is a good way to ensure it’s done the right way and he doesn’t pick up any bad habits. The results can be quick and impressive, and you will also learn how to carry on this training at home.

However, you need to be sure that you are comfortable with the training school’s methods and approaches before you enroll your pet. The best thing to do is to visit and watch a class without your dog, and see how you feel about what takes place in the session. Here are four things to look out for when choosing a dog obedience training school:

1. Is Everyone Happy?

This doesn’t just mean the canines. Of course, training should be enjoyable for the students, so if the dogs seem to be having a bit of fun, that is a very good sign — but also look at your fellow pet owners. Are they participating much? Have people been encouraged to bring their children along to get involved with the training process?

2. How Are They Training the Animals?

Look at the tools and methods the trainers are using and teaching. Red flags that this is not a good place for your dog include the use of things like electronic collars or choke chains. The best way to train a dog is with praise and small rewards. If the trainers are in any way physical when berating a dog — for example, pulling on the leash or hitting him — look for another school.

If the teachers at your child’s school were choking or smacking him or her, you would have the teacher out of there in a flash, and it should be no different for your puppy while he’s learning dog obedience.

3. Are There Enough Professional Trainers?

To get good value for money out of your sessions, you are going to want to look at how much attention and time your pet is going to get. One trainer dealing with 20 dogs and families is not going to give you optimal attention. There should be at least one professional there for every six dogs in the class.

4. Is It a Nice Environment?

Have a look around. Is there enough space? Is it hygienic, or does it smell like a million wet dogs? Is there a lot of clutter that might distract your dog? Also, is the space well secured, with any gates latched and all doors closed? The last thing you want is for your dog to make a break for it if he’s not enjoying his lesson.

By taking care and checking out a few different obedience schools or training providers, you should be able to find one that will give you the results you want, as well as providing a fun activity for your family and a great bonding experience for you and your new pet, in a safe and healthy environment.

* * *

This guest post was written by Ajeet Khurana, who writes about dog training on his blog http://dog-obedience.net. Photo: ActiveSteve/Flickr

Source: 4 Tips for Choosing a Dog Obedience Training School

Written by Guest Copyright 2012, Pets Adviser® pet advice.

The critics have piled on. (Illustration by adri021/Flickr)

UPDATED JAN. 19, with word of additional protests planned. – The Editors

Few dog trainers have received as much attention as Cesar Millan, known to most as “The Dog Whisperer.” What started in 2004 as a back-channel cable TV show begat millions of books sold all over the world; videos and DVDs; a monthly magazine; a website; the Millan Foundation; a Dog Psychology Center; and celebrity endorsements from the likes of Oprah Winfrey, Will Smith and Nicolas Cage. But oh how the mighty have fallen.

These days, Cesar Millan’s methods are hotly debated, with readers on online forums boiling over with anger. And the furor isn’t just online; a protest took place on January 15, for example, at a theater in Rochester, New York, where Millan gave a talk. And that’s apparently not all. “There has been so much attention to this that other cities where he is performing are doing the same,” says Ada Simms, Rochester protest organizer.

“Protests are being organized in Columbus and Akron, Ohio, where Cesar is performing,” Simms says. “There have been inquiries from as far away as Europe, where Cesar will be on tour after his US tour ends.”

What happened? Where did things go wrong for TV’s onetime top dog guru?

How the Juggernaut Began

Millan received no formal training; he is a noncertified, self-taught expert. This real-world learning began when he was a kid in Mexico and was known as “the dog boy” because he had a natural touch. Later, in the United States, he worked with aggressive dogs as part of a grooming business. He then created a canine academy, which attracted some high-profile clients.

The TV series Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan premiered in the fall of 2004 on the National Geographic Channel and was a runaway success. The bestselling book Cesar’s Way quickly followed.

Millan’s training philosophy in a nutshell? Your dog needs strong “pack leadership” from you (the true “alpha dog”) in order to be healthy and balanced. Call it dominance theory.

The longer version: He says to handle your dog with “calm-assertive energy,” giving it plenty of exercise, clear boundaries and rules, and lots of affection when the time is right. Your dog is a dog, not a human, and is to be treated like one, Millan says. You need to put your dog in its place when it is aggressive, using force — finger jabs to the abdomen, “alpha rolls,” even choke collars — if required. (Please note: Pets Adviser does not advocate this.)

Critics Start to Speak Up

In 2006, the American Humane Society lobbed one of the first grenades, asking producers to cancel Millan’s TV show, calling some of his training methods “inhumane” and “cruel and dangerous.” The animal group said it was particularly disturbed by the way Millan subdued dogs with shock collars, by pinning them to the ground or by tightening their collars. The group requested a different TV show that “sets a positive example by featuring proper, humane animal training.”

Millan, for his part, defends his methods, saying he uses “minimum force” to correct behaviors in aggressive pets, and adding, “My way is not the only way.” The American Humane Society later made nice with Millan, saying that despite “sharp differences,” the group shares many “areas of mutual interest” with the celeb trainer.

However, the criticisms didn’t stop, because plenty of others picked up where the American Humane Society left off. A fall 2006 New York Times piece headlined “Pack of Lies” lambasted Millan’s methods as “laughable” and “outdated.” The writer concluded, “Mr. Millan’s quick fix might make for good television…. But it flies in the face of what professional animal behaviorists…have learned.” Two years later, the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior issued a policy statement on dominance theory, which didn’t mention Millan by name, but decried his methods, saying they lead to “an antagonistic relationship between owners and their pets.” The policy paper included a list of eight major myths about dominant behavior in dogs.

In article after article, positive dog trainers urged a gentler approach (such as clicker training) than Millan’s. And newer studies seemed to bear the critics out. For example, a spring 2009 report in the Journal of Veterinary Behavior showed that asserting dominance over dogs actually increases aggression in those dogs. The National Geographic Channel must have been somewhat aware of this phenomenon, because it has cautioned viewers against following Millan’s methods, in a warning on screen during every episode that reads: “Do not attempt these techniques yourself without consulting a professional.”

By 2010 the Anti Cesar Millan Facebook group was thousands strong. In April 2010, PBS aired “The Dominance Myth,” an episode of the documentary series Through a Dog’s Eyes, which asserted that “scientifically, dominance makes no sense.” More and more attention was now being given to mainstream criticism of the Dog Whisperer juggernaut. Take this local newscast, for example, which aired in January 2009:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpcNOwbRyOE

That brings us to the recent protest in Rochester. Dozens of trainers passed out fliers advocating force-free training. Says Simms, the organizer of that protest: “[Cesar Millan is] charming and it looks good on TV that he’s this ‘master’ over dogs. But then you see the credits: ‘Don’t try this at home.’ Why? Because it’s dangerous.”

“Truly I am humbled by the response of the nation to this small protest,” Simms continues. “One step, one dog, one human, one city… keep it going!”

So, Is Cesar Millan a Bad Guy?

No. In fact, he’s done a lot of good for animal welfare, including advocating against breed-specific legislation and puppy mills, and in support of spay/neuter programs. And he’s actually right about quite a few things, namely that you are responsible for your own dog’s behavior, that your pet needs lots of love and exercise, and that chaining dogs is awful.

As Brent Toellner of KC Dog Blog, an animal welfare blog, expertly explains, the Cesar Millan controversy — which seems to polarize so many people on all sides — isn’t so black and white. Toellner says that blind accusations that Millan never uses positive reinforcement are just plain wrong, and he concludes:

“Sometimes I think, in efforts to discourage his training practices, people become too anti-Cesar Millan. They have become so frustrated with the people that are ‘doing it wrong’ that they feel forced to break down the man they feel represents that training style.”

Now It’s Your Turn

This is a highly controversial issue, so let’s open the floor to you. It’s YOUR turn to talk, so what do you think about Cesar Millan’s methods? Is he living in the stone age, or is there a time and a place for exerting dominance over your dog? Please tell us in a comment below.

Illustration: adri021/Flickr; Photo: Joe Seer/Shutterstock.com

Additional Resources

• Lisa Mullinax, CPDT: The Dog Whisperer Controversy
• Andrew Luescher, DVM, Ph.D, DACVB: Review of TV show, sent to National Geographic
• Beyond Cesar Millan: A compilation of criticism
• Eric Goebelbecker, CPDT-KA: Dog Whisperer episode commentaries

Source: The Rise and Fall of Cesar Millan, The Dog Whisperer

Written by Pets Adviser Copyright 2012, Pets Adviser® pet advice.

Do you know the difference between dog trainers and behaviorists?

Most people think that when they are having problems with the canines  they should immediately call a professional dog trainer. Not all problems require retraining your pet. Often, pet owners will spend gobs of money trying to get their pups to behave in the fashion that they desire only to find out that they really should have sought the assistance of a professional canine behaviorist.

Before contracting with any animal professional you should understand exactly what each one does to help dogs. Here’s the difference between dog trainers and behaviorists:

Trainers = Teachers

Professional dog trainers perform an important service. Everybody wants to have a beautifully behaved pup by their side as opposed to a monster mutt that cannot behave properly. A dog trainer can help teach your pooch to be the perfect companion.

Not all trainers provide the same type of service. Some train in basic manners such as sit, down, stay, come, go to your space and walk nicely on a leash. There are other canine educators who work to teach dogs not to jump, dig in the trash bin or lounge on the couch or beds. Still others perform more advanced training such as scent discrimination, protection training, complete off-leash commands or even search and rescue training.

Before you contact a dog trainer, know what you expect him or her to do for you. If you are simply looking for someone to teach your doggie to sit and come called, almost any professional dog trainer can help. It’s best to thoroughly discuss your needs before entering into a training contract. This will ensure that there is a complete meeting of the minds and each person knows exactly what is expected of him or her.

Behaviorists Make for Better Behaved Buddies

More and more people are beginning to seek out the help of animal behaviorists. Problematic pups can be difficult to live with, and in all honesty they aren’t very happy pooches. A skilled behaviorist can help transform your mutt from a monster into the perfect pooch.

Dogs that have been experiencing emotional problems can lash out in a variety of ways. A behaviorist will first do a complete evaluation before creating a plan for helping your pet overcome his issues. You will definitely be an integral part of the transformation.

Because of indiscriminant backyard breeders, puppy mills and people who breed canines for fighting purposes, behavior problems within the dog world have increased tremendously. Puppies that lacked proper socialization and human interaction when they were little tend to grow up to be unstable adults. Living with a pet that cannot be approached by anyone besides its owner must get help quickly. These puppies tend to eventually become fear biters or very aggressive.

Destructive dogs can benefit from a professional behaviorist. There isn’t a pet in the world that truly wants to do things to annoy the heck out of their owners. An experienced behaviorist can help you find out why your pooch is destroying your home. Most of the time, dogs become destructive because they are bored when they are left alone; however, some dogs suffer from separation anxiety and the only thing that soothes them is to chew on your things.

The behaviorist will be able to make your dog realize that you will always come back home or show you how to keep your pup busy when you are away from home.

Photo: ryantron/Flickr

Source: The Difference Between Dog Trainers and Behaviorists

Written by Roseann Lahey Copyright 2012, Pets Adviser® pet advice.

Almost all pet owners want to impress their friends and family with cool tricks that their dogs can perform. The perfect pooch will perform them and appear to be happy doing so while her inner puppy is probably rolling her eyes and pondering why you have to make her act so silly.

Regardless of what is going through your pup’s head, you can train her to perform the “shoot the dog dead” trick. In this article, I’ll show you how.

Train Your Dog to Play Dead (“Bang!”)

Before you can begin to teach your best friend to do the “shoot the dog dead” trick, your dog must have some level of obedience training. At the very least, she will need to obey the down command (in other words, she lies down on command), but the trick will work better if she will also obey the stay command. Ensure that she is reliable on the down command before even attempting to teach her the shooting trick. It would be wise to practice down/stay often so she will follow through every time you give her the command.

Here’s How to Do It

1. Let’s start with the side roll. This one is simple. Put her on a down stay. Once she is in the proper position, lying on the floor, roll your pooch gently onto her side and give her the stay command. You might need to hold her down for a few seconds so that she gets the idea. Once you release her, give a tasty treat and plenty of praise. Practice this initial step in short, two- or three-minute sessions a few times a day. Dogs do well when their training is consistent.
2. When your pet gets good at that part, it’s time to add a verbal cue. Choose which word suits you best for the trick. I would suggest “Bang!” “Pow!” or “Boom!” There are more creative pet owners who practice making the sound of a machine gun for the trick. The sound is completely up to you; just be consistent with the wording as your dog will respond only to that sound.
3. When your dog gets that hang of the verbal cue, add a visual cue to the mix: Make a shooting signal with your right index finger and thumb and quickly say your command word.

Your pup will probably become reliable on the “shoot your dog dead” trick within two weeks of proper training. Practice regularly if you expect your pet to be ready to perform on a moment’s notice.

Standing “Shoot Your Dog Dead” Trick

This one is a bit harder to master. First, teach the dog to reliably perform a stand stay. Practice until she stays still while standing until you release her from the command. Once she can handle this, you can move on.

Next, give the “Bang!” “Pow!” “Boom!” or machine gun sound. Then tell the dog “down.” (If she already knows the side roll, she will probably think that you forgot to tell her to go down and will simply roll onto her side.) Take the time to practice with your pet, and both of you will amaze your family and friends.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkN4eQE-Tn8

Additional Resources

• Animal Planet: Top 10 super cool dog tricks
• Gerilyn and Paul Bielakiewicz: The Only Dog Tricks Book You’ll Ever Need

Source: How to Teach the “Shoot the Dog Dead” Trick

Written by Roseann Lahey Copyright 2012, Pets Adviser® pet advice.

Use our techniques to train your dog to stay off the couch.

Most people who own canines as companions treat them just like other members of their families. Although the dog is well taken care of and treated like gold, many people just don’t want their pets on the furniture. The main culprits? Having to clean up pet hair on the couch or being embarrassed when company comes and the doggy won’t get up so your guests can take a seat. Some owners simply believe that pets belong on the floor and not napping on the couch.

Whatever your reasoning is for keeping your puppy off the furniture, you will be able to do so if you are patient and consistent. Follow these 4 sure-fire ways to train your pet to stay off your comfy sofa.

1. Start From the Beginning

The best way to train your dog to stay off of the couch is to never allow him up on it in the first place. Canines are creatures of habit. If you ever give your four-legged friend a license to lounge, he will automatically believe that the sofa is an acceptable place for him to take his afternoon nap. Being consistent from the beginning by never allowing your pup on the furniture is the best way to ensure that he will understand that the couch is for humans and not for him. (Poor fella!)

2. Narrow Down the Suspects

There are many households that have more than one canine living in the home. Heck, I’ve got eight Newfoundlands in my home. Most multiple-pet owners immediately think that the youngest or newest addition to the family is undoubtedly the one that decided to relax on the couch. When you have several doggies, you cannot afford to jump to conclusions. However, if you have only one pet, you already know exactly who is getting hair all over the sofa.

To find out which pup is the couch snoozer, crate all but one of the dogs when you are not there to watch them. Leave a different dog out each day and check the furniture for evidence when you return. You should soon learn which of your canine companions is taking over your living room furniture.

3. Learn to Love Laundry

Nobody likes laundry, but your trusty laundry baskets can be helpful in training your pooch to stay off the couch. Simply place the baskets on top of the cushions. This will help to block the pet’s access to the furniture.

Sometimes an owner will arrive home only to find the baskets on the floor and pet hair on the couch. This is an easy fix. Get some empty plastic water bottles or cardboard boxes and fill them with small stones. Load the baskets with the bottles and boxes and place them on the couch. When your dog tries to get up onto the furniture again, the baskets will fall and the sound of the rocks banging together will send him running away from the furniture. It’s decidedly low-tech, but this trick works.

4. Catch ‘Em in the Act

Dog owners who can catch their pup on the couch can teach him to stay off the couch much more easily. If this happens, immediately approach your dog and take hold of his collar. Gently pull him off the furniture while sternly giving the command “Off!” Repeat this anytime you catch him on the sofa. After a week or so, your pup will get the idea.

Should your dog decide that he doesn’t want to listen to your “Off!” command, remove him from the sofa and put him on a down stay on the floor. Every time he tries to get up on the couch you will have to deter him. Eventually you should see progress.

Of course, you can just shake a can filled with rocks. Check out this one-woman “Couch Patrol”:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3_LVsUOt3o

Positive Training

Perhaps shaking cans or stern commands aren’t your cup of tea. You may be interested in positive training techniques using a clicker and treats. In the video below, Pam’s Dog Academy demonstrates how this might be accomplished in your home:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BHtUJBMv90

Additional Resources

• Pamela Reid (animal behaviorist): Keep your dog off the couch
• Jolanta Benal (certified dog trainer): How to keep dogs off furniture
• Dog Training for Dummies: Teach the “off” command

Photo: Dustin and Jenae/Flickr

Source: How to Train a Dog to Stay Off the Couch

Written by Roseann Lahey Copyright 2012, Pets Adviser® pet advice.

Last summer, my nephew Evan was visiting me for a few days. Loving the outdoors, he spent a great deal of time running and playing with my pit bull, Bunker.

I would watch them from inside, hearing Evan saying, “Sit,” “Roll over” and “Fetch.” Each time Evan spoke one of these words, Bunker would do whatever the kid told him to do. Eventually, Evan would tire out (usually before Bunker did) and come back inside. One day Evan asked me, “Aunt Gayle, how many words can a dog understand?” What a good question for a child to ask!

Not that I’m bragging, but Bunker is a very intelligent dog. Most dog owners boast about their dog’s smartness, and research supports that theory.

How Many Words Can a Dog Understand?

Since the 1970s, when it was confirmed that chimpanzees can be trained to use and read words in sign language, we have known that language is not unique to humans. After all, parrots can be trained to talk and my chihuahua certainly understands when I say the words “Want to go…” Most of the time she beats me to the door.

Stanley Coren, a psychologist and an expert on dog intelligence, says the average trained dog knows about 165 words. (And most dogs can count to four or five — which, Dr. Coren admits, wouldn’t exactly make a very good accountant.) The smartest dogs (top 20%) have a vocabulary of around 250 words, on a par with a 2½-year-old child, he says.

Not every breed was created equally in the brains department:

• The smartest dogs, he says: the border collie, poodles and German shepherds.
• The not-so-smart: borzois, chow chows and bulldogs.
• And what is the dumbest dog breed, according to the doc? Sorry, owners of Afghan hounds, but your dog won’t be winning the spelling bee.

For more on this, see Coren’s entry in “Additional Resources” below.

How to Teach Your Dog New Words

Most pups know the basic “doggie” words (sit, stay, fetch), but your pet is capable of increasing his vocabulary and knowledge of words with your motivation and patience in teaching him new words.

To help your pet learn more words, acknowledge his achievements when he does what he is told to do. The same way in which we teach our children words will work well with our dogs too. Showing him a ball while saying the word “ball” allows him to associate the two together. Also, for good results, always say your dog’s name first, then the word you are trying to teach him. For example, when Bunker is out for playtime, all I have to do is say, “Bunker, pen!” and he heads straight to his dog pen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkYiQkssxpk

Tone of Voice, Body Language

Knowing a word and actually understanding the language — well, that’s a different matter. While dogs appear to comprehend our language, could it be that they are simply reacting to our signals or tone of voice?

Studies show that dogs pick up on human gestures and cues better than most animals (even great apes). A dog trainer will swear to you that it’s much easier to teach dogs a desired behavior by using hand signals than by speaking words. Why? Because dogs are so good at reading our (nonverbal) body language.

So, to answer Evan’s question, “How many words can a dog understand?” suffice it to say that they know roughly 165 words. Do they actually understand the words? It’s not clear. But we do know — without a doubt — that all of our canine friends have an amazing way of understanding us.

Additional Resources

• Animal Planet: How many words do dogs know?
• Stanley Coren: Top 12 (and bottom 5) dogs by intelligence
• ASCPA: Canine dog language

Photos: Xanboozled/Flickr; Noelas/Flickr

Source: How Many Words Can a Dog Understand? Ruff-ly 165!

Written by Gayle Hickman Copyright 2012, Pets Adviser® pet advice.

Question: We have a 2-year-old shih-poo — a wonderful, non-aggressive dog. She socializes well with other humans, especially children, but is nervous/afraid around other dogs. Unfortunately, we do not live near a dog park or have friends with other dogs. We just adopted a 10-week-old cockapoo rescue. He is very playful and tries to play with our shih-poo, but she backs away. (She shows no aggression toward the puppy.)

What can we do to help our nervous shih-poo become socialized so that she can enjoy having a friend? -Patricia S.

The easiest way to get your two dogs to be friends is to find a couple of bonding exercises that they can do together. The goal is to create multiple situations each day where both dogs are enjoying each other’s company. You can be as creative as you like in finding things your shih-poo and cockapoo might enjoy, and I will outline two of my favorites in this article.

The first exercise that I would work on is to take them for nice long walks together. As you are teaching them to walk calmly, it may be a two-person job, but pretty soon you should be walking both dogs side by side. This lets them feel like a team or “pack.” As you encounter new dogs, cars and people, the dogs will learn about the world together and start to truly bond.

The walks can be long or short, but shoot for at least 30 minutes per day. The longer you walk, the more trust that your 2-year-old will have for the puppy.

The second exercise that you can work on is teaching them a game they can play together. You can train both dogs to sit and stay and then call them from a distance and give them a treat when they get to you. This will allow your older dog to run with the puppy and realize that it can be an enjoyable experience. Instead of getting scared when the puppy runs, she will start to happily run alongside him. Before too long they will enjoy running together in more situations that just getting treats.

Working on these two exercises and any variations that you please should make the two dogs buddies very quickly. Once they are friends, it will be easier to continue to socialize your dogs — the puppy will probably help your shih-poo come out of his shell quicker when she meets new dogs.

Keep in mind that socializing dogs is a lifelong process and should be kept up indefinitely. -Matt Covey, Suburban K-9

Photo: Erica…M/Flickr.com

Source: Shih-Poo Nervous Around Other Dogs

Written by Matt Covey Copyright 2012, Pets Adviser® pet advice.

How to teach a dog not to dig

The green lawns of spring, the bounty of your garden and your beautifully planted and maintained planting beds are all enticing spots for your dog to dig. If you’re tired of your pup leaving gaping pits in your backyard, it’s time to end the problem for good.

Here’s how to teach a dog not to dig:

1. The first thing to do is make sure your pooch doesn’t have the chance to make the hole any bigger. As soon as you find a disrupted area, either fill the hole back up or lay a board across it to prevent any further digging. Oftentimes, if a dog is foiled at every turn, he’ll give up and find something else to do.
2. You might also try sprinkling chili powder — a safe, natural canine deterrent — in your dog’s preferred digging areas. If he finds digging unpleasant, he’ll likely stop.
3. You can also bury plastic forks tine-side up in areas where he likes to burrow. The plastic tines won’t harm him, but they’ll annoy him enough to make him stop digging.

Designate an area in which he’s allowed to scratch around, such as a sandbox, a digging pit or a section of the yard you don’t care about much. When you find him digging in these areas, respond by throwing him a party — praise him, rub his belly and/or give him a treat. He’ll soon learn that when he digs in certain places, he’ll receive the attention he’s seeking.

If you don’t catch your pet in the act of digging, there’s no point in punishing him. He won’t have a clue why he’s in trouble, and rubbing his face in the hole will only make him feel frightened and confused. Don’t reward this unwanted behavior in a dog with any attention, even negative attention.

Source: 3 Sure-Fire Ways to Teach a Dog Not to Dig

Written by Tamar Love Grande Copyright 2012, Pets Adviser® pet advice.

With rental space at a minimum and rates soaring daily, finding a decent, affordable apartment can be difficult, even more so if you have a dog.

Although many landlords will allow cats, rabbits, birds and reptiles, dogs are often excluded, even from “pet friendly” buildings. And God help you if you have a pit bull or other “dangerous” breed, like a German shepherd, doberman pinscher or rottweiler.

So how do you start finding a dog-friendly apartment, even in a “no pets” building? Follow these 5 tips, and you might be able to impress your landlord enough that he welcomes you and your pet with open arms.

1. Help Your Dog Earn a Degree

When you apply for a job, you highlight your degrees, so do the same for your pet. Take him to basic obedience classes, and then work on earning him a Canine Good Citizenship certificate. Not every landlord will understand what these “degrees” represent, so include a brief note clipped to your dog’s “diploma.”

2. Create a Doggie Resume

Although you wouldn’t include your personal resume when applying for housing, giving your potential landlord a resume for your dog is a personal, somewhat humorous way of showing that your dog will contribute positively to community. In addition to any training certificates your dog has earned, include information about his history, personality, behavior and habits. Keep the tone light, and be sure to add a picture of him smiling. If possible, include letters of references from previous landlords.

3. Give the Landlord Educational Material

If the landlord is reluctant to consider your “dangerous” breed dog as a tenant, pass along some educational information about the breed. Download an article or two from a reputable, well-known website, explaining the adage “judge the breed, not the deed,” and you may succeed in persuading him that your vicious pit bull is actually a wiggly kissing machine.

4. Arrange a Meet & Greet

Meeting your dog in person is the most effective way to sway a potential landlord. If you’re able to arrange such a meeting, prepare carefully. Make sure your dog smells and looks good, and put a fetching collar on him. Before the meeting, take him for a long walk or romp to tire him out. Bring training treats with you to keep him obedient and attentive. Finally, make sure he doesn’t jump up on anyone or make any messes. In other words, bring poop bags!

5. Offer a Pet Deposit

Even if your lease doesn’t include a pet deposit, offering one shows how serious you are about renting a particular apartment. An offer of $500, refundable when you move, might be the incentive your landlord needs to award the apartment to you.

A Note about Service Dogs

If you have a service animal, which the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) defines as a dog or small horse (yes, I’m serious) trained to perform a specific service to a person with a disability, no landlord can refuse to rent to you for pet-related issues, even if the building has a “no pets” policy.

The landlord reserves the right to rent to whomever he wants, of course, but he cannot deny you tenancy simply because you have a service animal. Although you are not required to show proof, a doctor’s note goes a long way toward convincing people your service animal is legitimate.

Have you had any problems finding a dog-friendly apartment? If you have a “dangerous” breed, what has been your experience? Let’s talk about it in the comments section.

Source: 5 Tips for Finding a Dog-Friendly Apartment

Written by Tamar Love Grande Copyright 2012, Pets Adviser® pet advice.

Learning how to teach your chihuahua to sit is not very difficult. It takes time, patience and consistency. You must be gentle during training and not over-stress your pet.

Sessions should be no longer than 15 minutes at a time but do it twice each day. Always train in a quiet area. Don’t allow anyone to enter the area when you are working with the puppy. This will eliminate distractions and allow your pet to concentrate on the job at hand. Use a tiny but tasty treat during the lessons.

Kneel down directly in front of your chihuahua. Do not allow him to jump on you or climb onto your lap. Use a treat to get his attention, but do not allow him to have it yet. Hold the treat a bit above your puppy’s nose and firmly say “Sit.”

Often, the dog will immediately sit because of the way the reward is held. If he sits, let him have the treat and praise him! Do this 10 times, giving a treat each time he sits on command.

If your pup doesn’t immediately understand what you are asking of him, you will need to show him. Let your tiny dog see that you have a treat for him. Give the command “Sit.” Very gently apply pressure to the hindquarters of the chihuahua. Give the command again and put him into the sit position.

Once he’s in the proper position, give him the treat and lots of praise. Repeat this procedure until your chihuahua learns to sit on command without your having to coax him into position.

Alternative Training Method

Another way to get your chihuahua to sit on command is by using a collar and leash. Treats are necessary for this process, too.

Put the puppy on the ground on your left side. Gently pull up on the leash while pushing down on his rump. Give the command “Sit.” As soon as his little butt hits the floor, give him the food reward and praise him. Practice this 10 times, twice each day. Eventually, he will completely understand what you expect him to do when you give the sit command.

The sit command is the basis for most dog training, and it’s helpful for all sorts of situations, such as smooth checkups at the veterinarian. Seeing how important this basic command is, it’s a good thing you now know how to teach your chihuahua to sit!

Need More Chihuahua Training Tips?

We recommend the very handy book Chihuahuas for Dummies. It’s a fantastic guide for raising and caring for one of these cute little pups. This “chihuahua bible” not only covers commands like “sit” and “stay,” but it also explores how to teach fun tricks to chihuahuas too. We found this book on Amazon.com for less than $5 recently. (More info.)

Source: How to Teach Your Chihuahua to Sit

Written by Dan Frontworth Copyright 2012, Pets Adviser® pet advice.

Some people start housebreaking puppies by using newspaper as toilets. This is not an appropriate practice when potty training a Great Dane puppy.

Although wee wee pads for dogs (sometimes known as piddle pads) are more absorbent than newspapers, they really aren’t a great idea for this large breed either. When a Great Dane puppy pees in the house, he really goes! We’re talking pools, not puddles. Those bladders are huge. Teaching one of these guys to use the bathroom indoors is an absolute recipe for disaster!

The minute you step out of the car with your new oversized bundle of joy, bring him to the area outdoors that you want him to use as a bathroom. Once the Great Dane puppy pees or poops, you should praise him and give him a tasty pet treat. Only after he does his business in the yard should you bring him indoors to check out his new home.

Once inside, let the pup investigate his surroundings. He will sniff around, but make sure that he does not squat to pee or poop. If he begins to go, a quick “Hey!” should stop the action while you quickly pick him up and get him back outdoors. When he finishes, praise him and give him a treat. He will soon associate doing his business outside with tons of praise — and a yummy treat too!

Of course, there will be accidents — no small matter when considering this is a Great Dane puppy peeing in your house. However, these “accidents” are a fact of life not only when house training large dog breeds but also any breed. It is important to keep your cool and always be consistent.

You cannot correct any canine after the fact; you have to catch him while in the process of going where he shouldn’t go. So one morning if you find a, umm, “present” waiting for you well after the fact, simply pick it up (not in your bare hands, for crying out loud!) and put it outside in his potty area. Any liquid should be wiped up. Use a solution of vinegar and water to deodorize the area. You’ve got to act like nothing happened because, trust me, the not-so-little pup won’t even remember that he went there.

Every time he eats or drinks, your canine should be taken outside. Remember the treats and praise when he does his business. You need to make him think he delivered a million dollars to you when he urinates or poops in the correct area.

With all these things in mind, you should find it a rather simple process to housetrain a larger dog like this. Consistency and positive reinforcement are the keys to knowing how to potty train a Great Dane puppy.

Photo: Bryan Peters/Flickr

Source: Potty Training a Great Dane Puppy

Written by Dan Frontworth Copyright 2012, Pets Adviser® pet advice.

Min pin crate training doesn't have to be difficult. We break it down into 5 easy steps.

Crate training is the easiest way to house train your miniature doberman pinscher, and keeps your li’l puppy safe at the same time.

In this article, we’ll discuss a method of min pin crate training in just 5 steps. This is a quick and easy way to make your min pin puppy feel secure, happy and comfortable in his own little bedroom. No dog likes to use the bathroom where it sleeps, so crate training is a great housebreaking program.

1. Be sure to purchase a crate that is not too big. (It shouldn’t be too small either.) It should be comfortable for your min pin to sleep in as well as roomy enough for him to stand up and turn around. Line the crate with a soft and comfortable blanket. Attach food and water bowls to the door so your miniature pinscher is never left hungry or thirsty.

2. Introduce your little one to the crate. The introduction is actually very important. Never just pick the dog up and shove him in it. He needs to explore the crate and realize that it is a good place. Hide treats and long lasting chew toys inside of the crate. A favorite stuffed toy will also help to make your miniature pinscher more comfortable in his new room. Let him go in and out at will. Providing the puppy is familiar with the crate and not afraid of it, you can move onto the third step.

3. Gently place your min pin inside the crate. Praise him and give him a special treat. Close and latch the door. Stay in the room and go about other activities for a few minutes. Open the crate door and continue as if the gate were never closed. The dog will come out on his own. Do not coax him to exit the crate because he should be able to stay in there if he wants to do so.

4. Now put the little one in the crate and latch the door. Be sure he has treats, toys, food and especially water. Stay in the room for five minutes but do not talk to the puppy. After that time, walk out of the room quietly. Leave the min pin in the crate for an hour. If he cries, reassure him that all is well and leave him.

5. Finally, exercise your min pin just before bedtime. Be sure he is tuckered out. Place him in the crate and tell him good night. If he cries, reassure him that everything is OK. If he continues to whine, a sharp “hush” should do the trick. Be sure to have the lights off at bedtime.

You should understand that the method of min pin crate training in just 5 steps will take at least a week. Be consistent, and your miniature pinscher puppy will be sleeping soundly in no time.

Photo: johnthesaintjohn/Flickr

Source: Min Pin Crate Training in Just 5 Steps

Written by Dan Frontworth Copyright 2012, Pets Adviser® pet advice.

How to walk a chihuahua on a leash?

It is important for every owner to know how to teach a chihuahua to walk on a leash.

In most areas, there are laws requiring all pets to be curbed when outside of a fenced area. A well-behaved pooch strolling down the street with her master is far safer than the animal allowed to run loose: a pet that is kept restricted is less likely to become lost or killed by a passing vehicle.

Your chihuahua will need to get accustomed to wearing a collar and leash. Be sure that you are using lightweight equipment.

For the first few days, attach the leash to the collar and let the puppy get used to the feel of it. Do not leave it on for longer than five minutes at a time. Never let your pup out of your sight while it is tethered. Some chihuahuas are afraid of the leash and will stay motionless until it is removed. Continue to use the five-minute trick until she becomes familiar with this strange new object.

Chihuahua Leash Training

After your doggie has become acclimated to the leash, it’s time to start chihuahua leash training! Attach the dog leash as you did before, but do not put it on the ground. Hold it and begin to walk across the room. If the pup follows you, great! If the chihuahua refuses to move, however, coax her over to you. Use a gentle voice and say, “Come here, baby.”

Keep encouraging her until she will walk to you. Do not let go of the leash. She needs to understand that this is the next part of the lesson. If you must, use a small pet treat to encourage her to oblige your wishes.

Keep Practicing

Keep the leash taut but not tight. Try walking your pet on your left side — your doggie should always be on your left. Because the restraint is not loose, the puppy will soon learn that she is to stay close to your side. Practice walking in an area with minimal distractions to help enhance her lesson. Take a few short learning walks daily. Once your chihuahua has mastered walking on a leash in private, it will be time to take her out into the public.

Need More Chihuahua Training Tips?

By the way, we recommend the very handy book Chihuahuas for Dummies. It’s a one-stop guide for raising and caring for one of these cute little pups. This “chihuahua bible” not only covers leash training and common behavior problems, but it also explores fun tricks too. We found the book recently on Amazon.com for less than $9. (Find out more.)

So anyway… Congrats! You should have the confidence to safely walk your canine companion anywhere now that you have learned how to teach a chihuahua to walk on a leash.

Source: How to Teach a Chihuahua to Walk On a Leash

Written by Pets Adviser Copyright 2012, Pets Adviser® pet advice.

There are so many cool tricks to teach your dog. The most important thing is that you have first taught your pooch the basics. By the basics I mean Sit, Down, Stay, Come and Heel. Without a basic education in canine obedience training, your dog cannot learn to perform the coolest tricks.

So now we start by training your dog to fetch a beer from the fridge. OK… just kidding. Let’s back up a couple of steps first!

Coolest Tricks to Teach Your Dog

OPEN THE FRIDGE. The Pull command is not only an awesome dog trick but helpful too. Let’s say that you are trying to put leftovers away into the refrigerator. Your hands are full of plates and bowls. How do you open the door? You don’t need to, because poochie knows the Pull command.

Pull is a simple cool trick to teach your dog. Just put a little bit of tuna oil on the end of a rope toy. Now get the puppy interested, and when he grabs the end say, “Pull.” This is not tug of war; he needs to pull and you need to allow him to do so.

After about a week of play, attach the rope toy to the refrigerator door. Show the pup the rope and command “Pull!” He should be able to open the door for you. Keep practicing this.

NOW CLOSE THAT FRIDGE. Now that your dog knows how to open the refrigerator door for you, he will need to learn to close it too. There is an easy way to teach the “Shut It” command as well.

Small, square pet treats are perfect for this cool dog trick. I would suggest Good Bites or similar. You will need to place a piece of double-faced tape of the front of the fridge. Attach one of the doggie treats. Once the door has been opened, show the pup the treat and say, “Shut it!” Encourage him to reach for the reward. Once he does, the door will close and he will be able to take the treat off the door.

Patience Is Key

Both the Pull and Shut It commands do take some time to perfect. Training with your four-legged friend daily will help make him reliable with these commands. Be patient and he will eventually get it. When he does, think of how proud you will be when you have friends over and this dog opens and closes the refrigerator on command!

These canine commands can also be used to open and close any other doors. These somewhat basic tricks are also the basics for teaching your dog to fetch a drink from the refrigerator — a mind-blowing stunt for you couch potato types!

The possibilities for coolest tricks to teach your dog are endless. Training your dog to fetch you a beer would be an amazing feat. Getting your dog to make you a sandwich, however — not so much.

Source: Coolest Tricks to Teach Your Dog

Written by Dan Frontworth Copyright 2012, Pets Adviser® pet advice.

How to use dog correction spray?

Dog correction sprays are very easy to use, considering they are usually in collar form and have a remote for the owner’s use. They have been found to be quite effective in correcting unwanted behavior. Used properly, these canine spray collars are harmless; however, the scent is offensive to the dog’s senses.

It is pertinent that the correction of an undesired behavior be immediate and only be done while that behavior is happening.

The training spray must also be accompanied with a verbal command such as “Off!” or “No!” The correction should be used with the verbal command, or the dog will not associate the verbiage with the unpleasant spray.

As an example, a pet owner makes himself a roast beef sandwich for lunch and leaves it on the counter to answer the phone. He is on the phone for about three minutes. He goes back into the kitchen only to find the empty dish and his puppy with mayonnaise on his jowls. A correction would not be appropriate. Had he caught the doggie on the counter stealing the sandwich, a correction would be warranted and understood by the pet.

The owner must be consistent with the behavior correction of the dog. Without consistency, the animal will become confused about what is expected of him. For instance, your pup jumps onto the couch and you activate the collar so the dog gets sprayed. He moves from the couch and lies down. The next time he approaches the couch, you allow him to jump up on it. The dog is being sent mixed signals and does not understand which behavior is acceptable. Consistency is the key to all training as well as correcting the unwanted behavior.

Never use the canine correction spray after you have found that the dog misbehaved. It must only be used while the dog is in the act of the behavior that needs correcting. For example, you come in from a jog only to find the trash ripped to shreds and dragged throughout the house. The puppy is napping in his bed. Do not use the spray, because the dog would then think that sleeping in his bed is a bad thing. Our pets do not have the ability to understand that they are being punished for what they did an hour ago. It just is not there.

The key to successfully knowing how to use dog corrective spray is consistency and reinforcement. Always remember to reward your pet for good behavior and not only to correct for unwanted behavior.

Source: How to Use Dog Correction Spray

Written by Pets Adviser Copyright 2012, Pets Adviser® pet advice.