Interactive Dog Training Game That’s Fun and Rewarding for Both Owner and Dog A Pawsitive Solution for Dog Training!

03.39 in a, and, both, Dog, for, fun, game, interactive, owner, pawsitive, rewarding, solution, that’s, training

Im off to a trade show in Las Vegas today, but I first had to share my latest press release. Ive been blogging about my new interactive dog training game and how its great for dogs of all ages and skill levels - not to mention its fun for both you and your dog

So please check out my our new press release and feel free to pass it along to anyone you think might be interested in this positive solution to dog training!

Inquisitive Canine’s Interactive Dog Training Game is Fun and Rewarding for Both Owner and Dog

Developed by distinguished dog trainer Joan Mayer, the Out of the Box Dog Training Game is an easy, simple and enjoyable way for you and your dog to play your way to canine good manners!

Ventura, CA - With 39% of U.S. households owning at least one dog, the common reality for many people today is that they just don’t have the time, money, or energy to invest in dog training or coaching their dogs to develop and maintain good manners.

The Out of the Box Dog Training Game was developed by acclaimed dog trainer and behavior coach Joan Mayer as a practical and affordable way for pet owners to positively reinforce real-world manners in their dogs while helping them create stronger bonds with their dogs for life.

This positive dog training solution was designed to go beyond traditional dog obedience training by emphasizing the importance of understanding canine behavior so that dog owners can successfully reinforce the behaviors they want, while limiting and preventing inappropriate habits.

“This interactive dog training game is highly effective because it employs established dog training techniques that reward and motivate both owner and dog,” said Mayer, founder of The Inquisitive Canine in Ventura. “I’ve created this pawsitive dog training solution as an easy, simple, and enjoyable way for dog lovers to raise a healthy and happy pet. By making dog training fun, you and your dog are learning - and you don’t even know it!”

The Out of the Box Dog Training Game includes:

• 56 activity cards that address real world manners such as loose leash walking, doorbell etiquette, techniques for building confidence and enhancing socialization, and activities that fulfill a dog’s innate needs while helping them adapt to our human environment
• An 18-page Guide Booklet that includes everything from dog training technique instructions to tips on which rewards will best motivate your dog to learn
• Scorecard to help you and your dog play your way to canine good manners

“The game is designed for dogs of all ages and can be played just about anywhere and at anytime that works in your daily routine - making dog training less overwhelming and more enjoyable,“ said Mayer, who also authors the dog advice column Dear Inquisitive Canine. "Since each dog training activity can be customized for specific needs and adapted to different learner levels to help advance your dog’s skills, the game is different every time you play!”

The Out of the Box Dog Training Game can be purchased online at http://www.inquisitivecanine.com/dog-training-game.php

The Inquisitive Canine is dedicated to empowering dog owners with a rewarding education that will help them further develop and enhance their everyday relationships with their dogs. The Inquisitive Canine specializes in dog training methods that focus on understanding canine behavior and teaching dogs through techniques that reward and motivate. For more information on private dog training, group classes, virtual dog training or the Out of the Box Dog Training Game, please visit http://www.Inquisitivecanine.com/ or call (805) 650-8500.

Also, please visit our web site to check out more news from the Inquisitive Canine.

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Important Dog Training Techniques For Dog Owner

15.31 in Dog, for, important, owner, techniques, training

Dogs are not as intelligent as humans, therefore they should not be treated as such. The owner will be greatly disappointed with how training goes. Dogs are smart animals, though, and with a little patience and understanding they can be well trained.

If there are certain things that set your dog off causing bad behavior, then keep his mind focused on other things as you pass by what provokes this bad behavior. For instance, do something distracting to entertain and stimulate your dog when you are walking him and you approach another dog that your pet does not deal with well. By doing this, he will start to see that good things can happen even when he sees that stimuli.



 It is important to leash-train your dog. This will help keep your dog and you safe when going for walks.

 Stay with the training, so that he doesnt forget the lessons that he learned. Keep him in practice. A lot of times owners thing training is a one time event. You can encourage your dog to adopt good habits. That is why it is vital to ensure your dog maintains a strict rule system.

 To ensure your training sticks, everyone in your household needs to treat your dog the same way you do and use the same training methods. Consistent methods is your best bet to get your dog to remember something. If teaching methods between people differs, it is easy for your dog to get confused.

 Keep your dog outside while you are away from home to prevent it from chewing on your items. When this is not possible due to weather or living in an urban area, close your doors to all of your rooms. This keeps your dog out of your things. Be sure to leave chew toys out for them.

 When your dog reaches six months, make sure that your dog is spayed or neutered. Obedience training should be put off until this is done. Any dog not "fixed" will be very excitable and easily distracted in obedience sessions. This will make your dog easier to train.

 Training a new puppy can be much easier if everyone in the the family participates in the training. While they may have a single person working with them regularly, getting everyone involved can enforce that they must always follow the rules and it will make it more consistent.

 Dont let your dog make the decisions as to when to pay attention. If you dont feel like making time or having enough energy to give the dog a command, dont do it.

 When training a dog, watch that you do not overdo giving the dog treats. Too many treats can really plump a dog up. It is easy to forget about treats when you consider how much you are feeding your dog. This can happen especially when you are training him.

 Train your dog in little steps if what you want him to do is a bit more complicated. Take fetching the morning paper, for example. The first step is to teach your dog to hold the newspaper. Next, he must learn to follow a command to approach the object by name. You need to teach him then how to pick the object up. Finally, show him that you want the object brought to you. As you break the behavior down into simple steps, your dog will soon grow to master the entire task you want him to complete.

 Not everyone has what it takes to train their dog, sometimes a professional is needed. You may hit a snag in your training and a professional can help get you back on track. Professional trainers can instruct you on how to improve your training methods, and get both you and your pet back on track.

 Every dog is unique and is motivated to learn by different things. What your dog likes, doesnt like, and what types of training work for him are all things that you are learning during this process. Regardless of the reason that you have decided to train your dog, provide him with various training exercises and copious amounts of positive reinforcement. You will find it much easier to train your dog if he is happy.

 Obedience classes can help you with any training issues you face. These classes can help deal with various issues such as stopping disruptive barking, not sitting when told, and not listening to you.

 Pay strict attention to your body language and tone of voice anytime you are training a pet. Dogs can be very perceptive and can pick up cues from their owners about how the owner is feeling. A firm but stern tone should be enough to reinforce discipline.

 There are a few tricks you can try when attempting to crate train a puppy or dog. If the dog doesnt want to get in the crate try putting a chew toy in it and close the gate when theyre not there. This will make the puppy want to be let inside the crate to get the bone. Open the door, and praise them when they go inside.

 Providing your dog with food that it likes while training him or her will help give them incentive to do good. Offering your dog a truly special reward is an easy way to encourage them. Really pay attention to his reaction when he is given the treat and adjust your reward foods accordingly.

 Crate training is an effective way to house train a dog. Always take your dog out consistently if you want to be effective at crate training. If youre patient you will find a dog who has been crate trained will make less messes inside.

 If you catch your puppy chewing on something that he shouldnt be, stop him as soon as you catch him. Redirecting your puppy towards a chew toy teaches him what is appropriate to chew on. This can prevent further damage to your possessions.

 You can prevent your dog from destroying your home by keeping it outdoors when you are away from the house. When this isnt possible, you want to provide things that both appeal to your dog and that are okay for the dog to chew on. Establishing acceptable chews toys is also about keeping those things you do not want your dog to chew up behind closed doors or well out out of reach.

 After learning some helpful hints on how to get through to your dog and train it to behave to your expectations you simply need to follow what you have learned. After changing your dogs behavior to fit with the tips suggested you can properly train your dog..

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Fun being a dog owner

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You have made a wonderful decision! Training should begin immediately after you have gotten home with your new pet. If your dog has good training, you will find that you have a happier pet, and you will have more fun being a dog owner. These guidelines offer helpful insight into the art and science of training your pet.

Just as a human likes to stretch out and lay on their backs, so do dogs. Therefore, it is essential to have a dog bed big enough for your furry friend. Plenty of pet brands make dog beds sized for larger breeds. A crib mattress is also a viable alternative. The perks of these are that you can change out the sheets on crib mattresses as often as you like without too much effort. Theyre waterproof, too!



 Always get your dogs attention by using his name. Your dog must respond when its name is called before you move onto more advanced training. You should aim to call your dogs name out around ten times a day. Dont punish your dog if it comes when you call.

 When training a dog, make sure to stay consistent. Keep a list of commands to use, and make sure everyone who might need to command the dog knows them. Make sure everyone knows what to do in terms of rewarding the dog when it does well and not reinforcing poor behavior. If everyone is on the same page, the dog will better understand what is expected of him.

 Make sure your dog feels safe to train them properly. If a dog feels unsafe, they are likely to show bad behavior. To prevent this from happening, always make sure your dog is in a comfortable, safe area.

 Communication is one essential thing to consider when training your dog. You must give consistent and clear signals when you training your dog. This includes not only using the same commands, but also maintaining consistent body language and keeping rewards and corrections the same. Pay attention to your dogs communication towards you, too. Pay attention to these signals because hes trying to tell you that everything is either going well or not so well.

 Call your pooch by his name to keep his attention focused on you. You puppy will develop the association between his name being called, and him needing to pay attention to what you are telling him. Pick a name that is distinguished and no longer than two syllables.

 When you are trying to break your dog from chewing, do it the right way. Also, be sure to keep a chewer out of hazardous situations. Many household items can be dangerous choking hazards, and some are even poisonous when chewed.

 If your dog suddenly starts misbehaving out of the blue, it is best to bring him to the vet so any health problems can be ruled out. Your dog might be acting out because he is suffering. Since they cannot tell us what is wrong, this is their way of letting us know that they need extra attention.

 A consistent schedule of feeding and potty-time is very important when house training your dog. This will give you an idea of when the dog is likely to have to go, so you can take it outdoors to take care of this matter before an accident occurs on your rug. Conversely, this also teaches your dog that he may need to wait to go to the bathroom.

 Use good treats that are irresistible to your dog. This is one time you can use something you would not usually give them, like meat.

 If you have to keep your dogs outside, never tie them up too close to one another. The dogs chains could get tangled up and cause harm to the dogs as they struggle to get free. In the worst case, a large dog might be able to strangle or crush a smaller one, entirely by accident, while trying to free itself.

 To have success in dog training, you need to be able to control it with commands. You have to show your dog that you are in control or he will not obey or respect you. When walking with your dog, always walk first, never let your dog lead, as this is the leadership position.

 Dogs have tunnel vision and will focus on one thing to the exclusion of all else. If you do it enough times, your dog will wait for your signals instead of focusing on other things.

 Be consistent with your cues when training a dog. Your dog can learn to associate a command with a particular behavior, but if you keep changing the command associated with a behavior, youll confuse him and he wont do what you want him to do. It is absolutely critical to remain consistent throughout. If you strive for this, you and your pet will get more out of the training.

 If dogs have similar personalities, you may be able to train them simultaneously. If your dogs fight or goof off instead of paying attention, it may be wise to do a bit of one-on-one training before training them together.

 Dont start a training session if you dont think youll be calm and patient throughout. If you cannot focus on remaining patient when training your dog, it will quickly lose interest in what you are trying to teach.

 If its possible, start training your dog when it is a puppy. Its not absolutely necessary, but young dogs do better with training. If you train your dog when he is a puppy, then he will continue to be a good dog for the remainder of his life.

 Behavior problems that suddenly occur with no reason may indicate a medical problem that needs to be evaluated by a veterinarian. Your dog might be acting out because he is suffering. This behavior may be his way of telling you that there is something wrong with him.

 A clicker works well when training most dogs. Using a clicker is as simple as showing your dog that good things happen when the clicking noise is heard. Try using this technique right away, doing it frequently over a span of a few days. Your dog will soon know that the clicking noise means that they are doing a good job.

 With the proper training, both you and your dog can be happy. These tips can give you the info you will need to get on the right track to train your dog..

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Owner can effectively train a dog

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Dog training often ends up looking more akin to human training. This can be said because before an owner can effectively train a dog, they must first train themselves on how. You need to learn how to properly train your animal first, and then start training your dog. The tips in this article can help you get started.

It takes small steps to crate train your puppy; they must become accustomed to it. Once he is comfortable walking in and out of the crate, try quietly closing the door and offering him a biscuit through the wires. Start small, like at 10 seconds per approach, and then gradually increase the times. If they become upset, you are moving too fast.



 For optimal dog training results, you must make sure that your dog is active at all times. Dogs are not meant to just lay around. To have an enjoyable life, they need to be able to get out and run and work. Train your dog for agility, jog with it or take it to the park. If you stay active with him, he is not likely to get bored.

 As with most things, and this goes with dog training as well, dont ever give up. Your dog will not remember his training if you are not there to constantly remind him of what you expect. In the same way that nourishing your dog with food and a safe place to live is a daily commitment, so is teaching and encouraging good behavior.

 Communication is one of the essential aspects of training your dog. Clear commands and consistency are necessary when you work with your dog. Your verbal commands and body language, along with the rewards you give out, should all be consistent. Pay attention to any cues that your dog gives you, as well. By watching and understanding the way your dog communicates, you can discover if your dog is getting fatigued, restless, or is happy.

 Stop your puppy immediately if he is chewing on something he shouldnt. This will help your puppy to learn what things he is allowed to chew and what he is not. He will then be less likely to chew on your belongings and instead will turn to his toys when he wants to chew.

 If you are training more than one dog, remember that some breeds of dogs can be trained together, but some breeds cannot. If your dogs cannot focus during training, you may need to start with one-on-one before training them together.

 For a happier and more content dog, be sure to provide it with things to do that will stimulate its thinking and keep its mind active. Some great activities to provide this mental stimulation could be a long outside walk, a favorite bone, or even a peanut butter-filled toy! If you dont keep your dog entertained, they will make their own fun by wreaking havoc on your belongings.

 When training a dog, you need everyone who takes care of the dog to treat him the same way. Consistency is important in your training method, as dogs respond the best when their training is consistent. If someone is training the dog one way and someone else tries something different, the dog will become confused on how to behave properly.

 Try to get your dog on a regular feeding schedule. This will give you an idea of when the dog is likely to have to go, so you can take it outdoors to take care of this matter before an accident occurs on your rug. Sticking to a schedule will teach your dog how to control himself until his next scheduled potty break.

 Try to teach your dog good habits right away. It is far simpler to teach a dog to do something the right way than to break bad habits. If you never give your dog any scraps from table food, they will never start begging for it.

 Keep count of the number of treats you feed your dog because you do not want him or her to get fat. A lot of people forget to account for treats given during training when considering a dogs diet plan.

 Get your dog ready early for his trips to the veterinarian. Move your hands across his head, back, stomach and legs, and give him reinforcement when he responds appropriately. Work with him so he is tolerant of having his paws touched and teeth examined. You could ask the assistance of your friends, too.

 Using a crate is an effective way to house train your dog. For crate training to be effective, you must make sure to let the dog out frequently. Dogs who are crate trained are often the best trained, having less accidents.

 Your dog needs to get plenty of exercise. Dogs can get bored very easily. Dogs that lose interest are hard to train. Dogs are more inclined to obey when they are regularly taken out for exercise and happily accepted as a member of your family. It is a great idea to take your dog out on runs or walks through the neighborhood.

 Do not tie up several dogs in close proximity to each other. One dogs chain might become entangled with the other, which could lead to serious injuries. If one dog is larger than the other, it could accidentally tangle the cord around the smaller dogs neck, causing it to become unable to breath, and possibly die.

 As with any professional, research their reputation to verify that you are getting the best animal behavior specialist out there. There are a lot of different approaches taken by dog trainers concerning how to correctly train a dog. Understand the trainers philosophy so that you can be sure the trainers approach is similar with your own views of dog training.

 Remember that more difficult behaviors should be approached in steps. A simple example is teaching your dog to get the morning paper. You first need to teach him exactly what a newspaper is and then how to hold it. He will then need to know what the object is by name. Then, he needs to be taught to pick up the object. The last step is to train him to bring the object to you. If you break it down, your dog will understand the linear relationship of the behavior.

 When looking at dog trainers, do a lot of research. Check user reviews on the Internet and learn their training methods. Make sure that the specialist has ideas in line with yours.

 You can prevent your dog from destroying your home by keeping it outdoors when you are away from the house. When this isnt possible, you want to provide things that both appeal to your dog and that are okay for the dog to chew on. Establishing acceptable chews toys is also about keeping those things you do not want your dog to chew up behind closed doors or well out out of reach.

 Now that the people who are interested in training their new pet dog have, hopefully, learned some new tricks, they can proceed to pass them along to their pets. Once a dog is on its way to learning, the owner will begin to appreciate the dedication that he or she has shown for doing the right thing for mans best friend..

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Owner Untrains Their Dog Coming When Called

01.53 in called, coming, Dog, owner, their, untrains, when

A simple yet frustrating problem: the dog wont come in the house when called.  Its a problem that repeats itself day after day.  Sometimes the dog will come, but often it wont.  Is training with treats the problem?  Does it backfire and create these situations?  A lot of owners think so.

In truth, its a problem of "untraining" where what an owner does (how they respond to a dog not doing what they are told), actually makes the problem worse.  "Untraining" is the process of reinforcing the bad, unwanted behavior, instead of the good, desired behavior. It goes a little like this:

Owner Untrains Dog, by Mary Majchrowski

Scene: Dog is in the backyard.  Owner is in the house, getting ready for work.  Owner decides it is time for dog to come in the house.

"Dog!" yells Owner. "Dog, its time to come inside! Come Dog, Come!"

Dog pricks an ear in mock interest.  Dog continues sniffing Very Interesting Leaf.

"Dog!" Owner calls again. "I need to go to work.  Lets Go!  Come on, Dog!"  Owners voice gets louder and more desperate.  "Not today Dog, I need to get going!"

Dog leaves Very Interesting Leaf and catches a glimpse of Totally Fascinating Squirrel.

"Dog, Come!" yells Owner.

"Squirrel, Run!" barks Dog.

"Dog, Come!" Owner repeats, with a threatening tone.

"Squirrel, squirrel, squirrel," Dog barks.

"Stubborn Dog," Owner mutters, turning back into the house.  Owner goes to the pantry and gets The Box.  Owner returns to back door with The Box.  Dog turns and looks at Owner.  Owner shakes The Box.

"Dog, want a cookie?  Treat, you wanna treat?"  Dog saunters over to Owner and gets a treat from The Box.  Owner grabs the dogs collar and drags Dog into the house. 

"Bad Dog!" Owner exclaims.  "You never do what I say!"

So, there are a few issues with the scene above.  How many can you find?  Lets go through them one by one, with the appropriate responses included.

1. Wrong Way:  Not using a single, trained cue word.  The owner in this case tells the dog come, come on, lets go and many other words.  Right Way: Practice inside the house teaching your dog a single, recognizable cue word, like "come" or "here." Train your dog to understand the cue before you expect them to respond to it, especially in distracting situations like where there are leaves and squirrels.
2. Wrong Way: The treat is offered after the dog has disobeyed.  After repeated failed attempts at calling the dog in, the owner then goes and gets the cookie box. The treat then becomes a reward for not coming when called - the dog will learn "If I ignore my owner long enough, eventually they will go get the cookies!" Right Way: While your dog is learning, set a jar of treats near the back door.  Every time you go to bring your dog inside get a cookie for your dog, then call him or her in.
3. Wrong Way: The owner used the treat as a bribe, not a reward.  By waiting until the dog had refused to come and then luring it in with the promise of food (shaking the cookie box), the owner bribed the dog.  Right Way:  Always pick up the treat before calling your dog.  If they initially get a treat every time they come inside, the dog will learn that they get good things for coming when called.  That is reinforcing good behavior. 
4. Wrong Way: The dog was punished (grabbed by the collar and yelled at) once it finally did come.  The dog will eventually learn to dread responding to the "come" command if punishment is the end result.  Right Way:  Praise your dog when they come to you, even if they didnt come right away, even if you had to chase them around the neighborhood for 20 minutes first.  If the dog ultimately comes to you (or even just allows themselves to be caught), that behavior should be rewarded.  Be the "good guy," even if you are angry.  Dogs connect praise to the last thing they did, like coming to you.

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Being a new dog owner

10.07 in a, being, Dog, new, owner

Training your dog is beneficial to both you and your pet. The following tips will tell you the inside scoop on how to get your pup trained properly.

One of the ways to make a dog more easy to train is to have the dog fixed at six months. This should go hand in hand with the start of obedience classes. A newly neutered or spayed dog is more obedient. You will be able to better enjoy the time you have with your dog and they will be happy and healthy.



 Limit the duration of training sessions. Dogs can only handle a short amount of training at a time, so dont overdo it. Ten minutes is about the length of time a dog can handle.

 Use your dogs name whenever you are offering it a treat. If you want to have control of your dog, you have to teach him to respond to you. Get your dogs attention this way ten times every day. Also, on no occasion punish your dog if he comes running to you whenever you say his name.

 Six months is the recommended age at which a dog should be spayed or neutered. This is also a good time to begin obedience training classes. You dont want hormones to interfere with the learning process. You and your pet will enjoy a longer and happier life together.

 Reward your dog with high-quality treats when you are training him. A treat that is normally forbidden, such as table scraps or cheese, is a great choice.

 Make sure food and outside time are scheduled to help break your dog into being an inside dog. This can train your dog to whine or come get you when he feels the urge, so you can let him out and prevent him from doing his business inside. Having a regular schedule will help your dog know that a potty break will be coming, and he will hold learn to hold his bathroom urges until that time.

 The more active your dog is, the healthier it will be. Dogs get bored just as easily as children. Dogs that are bored are not easy to train. A dog that is happy, and gets the attention that they crave, will be a better behaved and attentive dog. Go on runs or long walks together.

 Give your dog a regular elimination and feeding schedule, so you can house train them. Your dog will adjust to the schedule and he will quickly learn that his outside time is when he should go to the bathroom. Using this schedule can teach your dog how to hold their piddle until the upcoming potty break.

 Stop your pup from chewing on an object that they shouldnt be if you catch them doing that. By doing this your puppy will learn which items he can and cannot chew then, when he is unsupervised, he will be less likely to chew your belongings.

 Your whole family should be involved with training the dog. The house rules and specific expectations will be more apparent to the new dog if everyone, not just the primary trainer, follows the same training procedures.

 Anxious dogs tend to chew things, including your upholstery. If you keep him in a crate and give him toys that are safe for him to chew on, your dog and your house will stay safe.

 Anxious dogs are prone to chewing on things they shouldnt. Dogs like to den up. Giving him a crate to lie in and a toy to chew on will make your dog feel secure and keep him occupied.

 Try training your dog to grab a toy and keep it in his mouth. When you see him mouth a toy, give him a reward or treat and use a clicker. After a few tries you should allow the dog to pick up the toy on his own. When he does, just click and then give a reward. After this, you should only reward your dog after he holds the toy in his mouth.

 Dog learn by doing the same thing over and over, and also by being rewarded. First, you must completely walk the dog through what you want to accomplish, and then set up a daily routine around the behavior that includes rewards. This is the right way in teaching a dog a new trick. Show your pet the right way through rewards and repetition.

 Keep your dog outside if you are not there. It will reduce the headache you get from the dogs uncontrollable chewing. If you dont have a safe place for your puppy outside, consider closing him in a room that doesnt have tempting things for him to get into.

 A new dog requires teaching proper obedience training right from the beginning. It is much easier to get a dog to learn the right way rather than making it unlearn its bad habits. If you never give your dog any scraps from table food, they will never start begging for it.

 The easiest way to keep your dog or new puppy from chewing up everything in the house while you are out is to keep him outdoors while you are gone. If this is not an option for you, the simplest way keep him from chewing is to close the doors to rooms that have appealing items and put other tempting items out of his reach.

 Feed your dog a healthy diet. If your dog isnt getting what he needs from his diet, he will have a hard time concentrating during training. Poor nutrition adversely affects your dogs health and can cause uncharacteristic behavior. A proper diet can affect how well they react to training.

 The best time to start training a dog is when its a puppy. While it isnt essential, a young dog will be easier to train. If you start training your dog when he is young, he will be almost as well-behaved as a child.

 When you get your puppy, be sure to create a bond to him by helping him learn his name. Repeat his name regularly, so he will learn to come to you when he hears it. These should be the primary words your dog needs to learn. Spending a lot of time interacting and playing with your puppy is the best way to establish a bond of love and trust. This will make him easier to train later.

 Understanding a dogs mentality and psyche are crucial to train a dog. When you know and understand this principle, you will be more successful in your efforts. Once someone knows a bit more about dogs, training becomes easier and more likely to work.

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