Dogs are dependable and strong animals. They are always there when we need them. However, they do not have an ornamental value in our homes and our lives, but sometimes a more important task.

If you would like to train or get your dog trained as a professional ’search and rescue dog’, then it is important to know a few facts. First of all, always remember that the dog has to be physically sound and mentally very alert at all times. If the dog does not respond to strangers with a bark and is clearly disinterested, it is not a good choice for a search dog. There are certain attributes that it must possess in order to be fit to train as one. In times of tragedy and calamity, he would be expected to be sensitive enough to find victims and save them if he can. If he is not sharp, how will he be able to perform this difficult task? There are times when the canine is required to be gentle, which is another important aspect. You need to instill confidence or identify if your dog is confident enough. This quality will be required when he meets so many new faces, goes to different places and unfamiliar surroundings. He needs to be used to noise, traffic, even a boat or a plane, depending on the requirement. The job is important and hence you need a calm dog, rather than a howling frightened mouse! Identify all these factors in your dog before you decide to train him as a search dog, or else it will be a waste of money.

You, as the owner also need a certain amount of training, for you to be able to work as a team and know things like how scent travels, and be able to trust your dog and let him go. There are so many things like weather conditions and mood of the dog – listen to what he is trying to communicate. All this takes time but once you get the hang of it, it is not difficult. As much as you need to learn to trust your dog, so does he have to learn to trust you and this in turn builds up a great teamwork for search and rescue. When he barks, always know that he is trying to say something. He is not trying to waste you time and never ever doubt him. It is very rare that they make a mistake or a wrong guess. So learn to trust him and go along with his judgement. And if he is right, reward him. This will make him very happy to do the job the next time too. He will put in more effort to do the right thing, when he realizes how happy his master is.

Bringing home a new pet dog brings in excitement, happiness and a responsibility – providing your dog with an enriched life, with proper care and guidance. It is advisable to assume training your dog right from the beginning. A comprehensive training with the time tested techniques coupled with loads of patience would ensure a lifelong relationship with your four legged friend; one that is based on trust and understanding.

Positive reinforcement is a highly recommended technique for training the canine. Put in simple words, positive reinforcement refers to rewarding a good and favorable behavior and disregarding unfavorable behavior. Dogs have a natural tendency to want to please you and positive reinforcement banks on this attribute in the dog, in order to elicit good behavior from him. Training through positive reinforcement instills in your dog the self confidence to learn quickly. Positive reinforcement theory purports that just like human beings dogs too prefer to be appreciated rather than being punished. Provide something to your dog as a reward just after he has done something good or obeyed you. Your dog will repeat that action to get the same ‘reward‘ response and hence, through positive reinforcement you can shape your dog’s behavior.

Continuity, consistency and correct timing are the essential features to be followed while training your canine using positive reinforcement methodology. All the members in the household must consistently use the same commands to teach the dog as this eliminates confusion and helps the dog to get familiar with every command and learn the appropriate response to it. It may be a good idea to put up the common commands in writing at a place accessible to all. Usually the commands used for dog training are; sit, stay, off, stand, heel, leave it, come, watch etc. In order to shape the behavior of your dog, it is essential to provide him with continuous positive reinforcement. Through this you may teach your dog many tricks. You can start with reinforcing actions that are close to the response you want from the dog and then gradually take the step further by holding on to the reward till the dog gives the actual response. It is also advisable to give positive reinforcement to your dog each and every time your dog displays the desired behavior or action. Correct timing plays an important role in training your dog; the rewards should be given out as soon as the desired action or behavior is flaunted. As association of the reward with the appropriate action will be established if you immediately reward the action the dog performed. Using intermittent reinforcement technique is advisable after your dog has reasonably and consistently mastered one particular behavior.

Positive reinforcement may be a treat, like small and soft food tit bits of cheese, hot dogs, cooked beef or chicken etc; a pat on the back, an enthusiastic round of praise, saying ‘good dog’ with a happy note in the voice, giving a favorite toy or playing a short game with your dog. Positive reinforcement may be considered a powerful tool in not just training your dog, but also to motivate the animal to be a well behaved dog. It fosters an unshakable bond between you and your canine friend.

You want to spend a couple of hours playing with your dog and so off you go to the park, with ball in hand. The common thing you would naturally do is to throw the ball and ask your dog to fetch it. How often has your dog simply stared back at you, puzzled? Are you surprised that your dog did not fetch the ball? After all, all dogs are known to fetch things for their owners. Well, then what you don’t know is that your dog needs a wee bit of training.

Apart from fetch there are two other basic commands that you can teach your dog. They are “sit” and “stay”. You definitely do not want your furniture to be damaged or your yard and plants to be destroyed. Therefore, it is better to start training your dog and teach him these few simple commands to begin with.

You can start by teaching your dog to sit. It is a very simple task. Make your dog sit in a place while uttering the command “sit”. If it keeps standing then you should sit and repeat, “sit”. Repeat the command a few times everyday as the animal learns to sit. Next if your dog moves as soon as you move then you should also sit with your dog and say, “stay”. Dittoing the same exercise a number of times will make your dog understand that you want him to sit and remain in the same position.

Training your dog to fetch something is one step ahead of “sit” and “stay”. One common way to teach your dog to “fetch” is with the bait and switch method. In this technique, you need two identical toys that your dog loves playing with. You need to show him one of the toys, while hiding the other one. Then throw it, unleash your dog and shout out the command “fetch”. Your dog is most likely to go and fetch it since it is a familiar toy. As he returns back, show him the new one. More often than not your dog will drop the one it is holding in favor of the new one. Let your dog return back to you and leash him. Now throw the new one, and say “fetch” as you unleash your dog. Meanwhile you retrieve the old one. Repeat the cycle a few times.

If your dog does not fetch the toy in any of the instances, you can walk your dog right up to the toy and let it fetch the same. The toy can also be replaced with meat to motivate the dog to fetch. A few tips to remember are to not to throw the bait too far, do not let the dog play with the fetch toy all the time, hold your dog for a moment before you allow it to chase the bait, and do not use sticks as bait.

Every time your dog completes any of the commands successfully, reward him. This will increase his interest in the game. A word of advice would be not to lose your patience while training your dog. You will soon be ready for some great bonding exercises with your pet dog.

‘Evidence dogs’ is a term used for canines trained to search for things that bear human scent. Sometimes it can be specific human scent. Such dogs are used in criminal cases where evidence is thrown away by the suspect. Such evidence is useful later when a Bloodhound is able to link its scent to the alleged suspect! Such cases are deemed as admissible in courts too.

You can train your dog also to search for evidence. If your dog loves to fetch something for you and has a knack for finding out things just by smelling them then your dog is suitable to be trained. Additionally, if your dog can trail human scent and has sometimes found out live people then it is perfect to be trained for evidence search. But it is you who has to provide him that special training.

For training your dog for evidence search, you need to invest in a few pairs of socks or washcloths, say around a dozen of them. Now, you can ask your friends to wear those socks for a day or wear the washcloths next to their skin for a couple of hours. Then ask then to keep these washcloths in plastic zip-loc bags so that the smell does not fade away. Next, you need to find a track to train your dog. The track should have high grass with a side walk or mowed grass. Place each of the washcloths in a separate hose with a couple of pebbles so that it is weighed down. While you handle these clothes, do so wearing plastic gloves so that your body smell does not get mixed up.

Now, you go to your selected path. Toss out one of the hoses so that your dog smells it in the wind. Then command your dog to fetch the hose. As your dog follows it, you too should join the animal. Once it gets the hose don’t let it take it in his mouth. Instead you pick it up yourself. You can do this separately with each of the washcloths, throwing them in separate directions. Once the animal fetches an item, praise it or reward it with something so that it gets motivated.

You can repeat the same process for a few days till your dog becomes familiar with the activity. You can further increase the training by throwing out the items in different directions and marking them by a flag. Take your dog any one of the items and command it to search for the other ones. If it is unable to do so you can help it by walking towards the item. It will get the hint and search the item for you. You can also ask your friends to bring scented items for the dog’s further training. Ask them to hide for you and then you can command your dog to carry out the search, as you place the items somewhere. This way the dog will be able to find out the subject as well as the hidden evidence. In no time your dog will become a good search dog.

Most dogs are not treated like animals, but given a place in the family. They are loved and taken care of in a very good manner. And even when the whole family goes on a trip, be it for a picnic, long distance or to the mall, everyone loves to take the pet along. But their biggest fear is – will he behave in the car?

You can ensure this if you take the trouble to train your pet well and teach him in the right way. They do not have the understanding of right and wrong and hence need to be taught, in a loving but firm manner. If you have been sending him to a training school, then there is a lot that he would learn there. If you have been doing it at home, then one good way is to ‘crate’ him. This means, he will realize that he must sit in a corner sometimes and not move and this will slowly break him and make him very submissive. Always show him that you are boss, and even though you care for him, this time you mean business. Crating or making him sit in that box, is very helpful as they are usually very playful and love to prance around. This kind of order takes some time for him to submit to, but in the end it helps a lot. When he has to actually sit on a seat in the car, he will not move because now he has learnt something very important, and that is ’spot management’. Automatically, he would realize that the car is not a place where he can misbehave, and slowly he will settle down and give in.

On his part it takes time, and on your part, a whole lot of patience. Another very important thing that will not only help him to stay in place but also save his life in the event of an accident is a seatbelt. Nowadays, there are more and more of them being manufactured. Also, all dogs are not the same. There are many who are very stubborn and independent. It is difficult for you to make them do what you want. You need to really work extra hard at training them to behave in the car. The quiet and calm canines are not so difficult to control and train, as they are really willing if you show them love and fuss over them. But the tough ones do need a firm hand and a stern voice that will command them in staying in their seat. Even barking is something they enjoy doing. Control them from the time they are puppies, so when they grow older they get used to the ‘BOSS’.

Just like you have different types of people, you also have different types of dogs. They are man’s best friends no doubt, but they do have their own moods and temperaments. And it is only advisable to treat them differently. Understand their nature, their behavior, moods, what they like and dislike and go with the flow. You should know how to best train your dog and what will suit him better. Training should be a relaxed and fund experience for the both of you, where you get a chance to bond, and not want to kill each other. So see what really gets him eager to learn and train.

It is easy for some dogs to submit and difficult for others. Some are bossy and hard to break, as they love to lead you instead of the other way round. But some dogs are very docile and hence easier to manage and train. Once you understand which category your dog belongs to, you then need to have a lot of patience if it is a difficult animal. I am in no way saying that they are worse than their submissive friends, but instead possess qualities of independence and dominance which are good in the long run.

But during training, these types pose a problem as these dogs do not submit easily and they do not like to be told what to do. They do not like to do things to keep their master happy, so trying to get them to listen to your commands can be tough. They mostly do not like to be petted or groomed, and quite like being left to themselves. They prefer leading a solitary life and are very low on social skills. You need to adapt yourself to these signs. Try giving him his space now and then, and in between try a training class so as to encourage him in a way. Reward is another way. You know what he really likes, so go ahead and keep a pocketful of goodies ready. Use any tactic that does not involve physically abusing or hitting the dog. This will only make him more stubborn and he is sure to refuse to budge.

The dominating ones need to be shown who is boss, in a nice but firm manner. Do not be ready to exchange roles, even if the dog seems angry and irritable. Be firm and focused and soon training will become a very smooth and hassle free task. Training is not simply an uphill task; just look at the brighter side, he is your pet and you adore him; your companion and protector for the rest of his natural life!

Training a dog takes a lot of effort and patience on your part. It just does not happen overnight. It is something that takes place over a period of weeks and months. And verbal communication plays a very crucial and important role in imparting training to a canine. It is in fact a package of all three – that is – your tone of voice, verbal commands and body language that SPEAKS to a dog. It gets a lot of information from the way you move and speak. Common words like ‘heel’, ’sit’, ’stay’, are familiar to most people as words which all trained dogs are familiar with. But incorporating all these techniques together is what will train the dog in the best way possible. Also ensure that he treats you as ‘boss’, since he would love to be boss if given a chance. But when you train, command obedience without raising a stick.

Sometimes a word is never sufficient and the dog might actually be confused. It takes a little bit of action on your part to make him understand. If you want him to sit, either make that action with your hand or tap him on the rump and say SIT, this will make it more clear as to what you expect him to do. Always remember while training a dog, do not sound confused or allow your voice to falter; this will send a wrong message to him. He will feel like he does not need to do what you want. But when you speak, sound firm and authoritative. He will realize that you mean business, and there is no way he can get out of it. Do not keep saying, stay, stay, stay. He will be totally lost. Instead say it firmly once accompanied by an action, and he will get the point. Reward is an important part of training. Use his favourite food or a toy to reward him when he obeys and does what you want him to. He will realize that master is happy and will obey you the next time you say ’stay’. Indulge in praising him every time he does something good; in a light and happy voice accompanied by a smile. They are just like children and understand when you are upset and when you are happy with them.

It is tiring, but verbal communication makes it very much easier for him to deliver more or less what you want. Actions are never enough. And dogs are understanding creatures, so it is easy for them to sense what you mean.

Each and every pet owner loves the pet and treats it like a part of the family. A dog is a friend, a confidante and your protector, when you need one. Just like we need to eat right, when we exercise or train, so also in the same way, when we put our canines through an exercise regime, we need to make certain that they have a proper and balanced diet. In fact any dog that has a good and balanced diet, displays the signs – a healthy torso, beautiful silky hair (for the hairy or fluffy kind of dogs) and beautiful, shiny twinkling eyes. It shows in their physical and mental well being. So basically you need to take good care of the diet, so that the pet leads a long and healthy life.

Now we know that feeding a dog can be quite drain on your resources. They are quite expensive and if you are not very well off, then it could a little difficult. But nevertheless, there are a variety of products available that could fit into your budget. It is mainly fresh products like meat, fish, chicken, vegetables, milk, eggs that are really more expensive. Chicken and meat are sources of protein for them. Most vegetables provide the essential vitamins and proteins needed for the production of hormones and enzymes. They get their starch content from brown or white rice, which gives them energy from these carbohydrates. So even if you cannot afford these on a daily basis, ensure that you do make them available at least three times a week. On other days you can use various dry products found in the supermarket. They are produced by very trusted brands in the dog food business. And yet there are some which are expensive and others that are cheaper. Don’t always go in for the cheaper products as you may be compromising on the health of your pet.

Ensure that you take time out to read what is written on the packing to know what you are getting. Cheap foods are not always good foods. They are cheaper because they contain a high amount of animal organs in their ingredients, which is considered as waste. These parts are not considered safe for humans and hence included in their foods. This is a clear indication that it is not the right choice of food, and instead maybe harmful to them in the long run. A bad diet always leads to weak bones, degeneration of the muscles, shedding of the coat, and makes the animal lethargic too. Experts in dog food have given us a ration of 40%, 30% and 30% for essential products they need, which are meat, vegetables and starch.

Dogs are wonderful creatures and when they are a part of your home, they are a blessing. Just like you find people of different temperaments, so also there are different dogs that behave differently. Their behavior, their moods, likes and dislikes, everything should be considered by the owner, especially in the case of timid dogs or as they are widely known as ’shy’ dogs. Overall they are sweet, loving and very affectionate. They need to have a quiet and peaceful home where they can blossom and add beauty to your life. Do not make them a part of your household if it is filled with children and hence noisy and chaotic. They would never be able to adjust to the same. This could have a negative impact on them and make them aggressive and defensive. So check and see if this little Chihuahua is well suited in your home or not. If you are living alone, they make ideal companions to have. Their peaceful disposure gives you a sense of peace and tranquility.

There are many dogs genetically very tough and hence can go through problems, while other ones are very sensitive by nature and confront problems in any kind of environment. This is where you play an important role. Once you have identified the nature of your dog, make sure you are gentle and kind, and use the right methods while dealing with it, even the tone of your voice. Never be impatient with it and always wait for results; don’t expect them overnight. Since they have their own fears too, deal with each of them in a separate way. If you feel that the canine is afraid of the noise of the blender, ensure that he does not enter the kitchen. Very slowly, little by little, you must bring him at a distance from the blender. He may be agitated initially, but will get used to the noisy gadget. Give him time. Deal with his fears, one at a time, but ensure that it does not make him aggressive and violent.

Also you can keep petting him or playing with him when he has to face his fears or come in close proximity of them. It is that feeling of trust in you that will assist him in getting over each fear, over a period of time. You may also learn to reward him when he has been good and in this way he will happy about pleasing you again and again. Try diverting his attention from that object of fear. This really helps as he is no longer concentrating on it. Distraction works most of the time.

All dogs are loved by their masters. Whether, they are watch dogs, pets, or those made for showbiz. It is difficult to train a dog for shows, but if you have some guidance, it is not impossible.

There are hundreds of dog shows all through the year. The first thing if you want to flaunt your dog at shows is that you need to ensure it is an offspring of another show dog. It is much safer, as there will be many qualities that you will be able to notice in the pup, which resemble the parent. There are a lot of physical attributes you need to take notice of, like the way they are built or conformed, the shape of the ears, head, legs and tail. If you have ever watched a dog show, you must have noticed how beautiful they look and how gracefully they stand. This is not possible for any ordinary dog. Most of the breeds on show are born with such talent. Once you have your perfect buddy, start with the basic commands, like, sit, stay or heel but in an artistic manner and with fine timing. It may take a couple of months, but don’t be disheartened, good things come to those who wait. Your dog is going to make you proud one day.

Once you finish with the basics, go on to the advanced acts. Be dedicated and focused and stick to a daily routine and a fixed timing. If you can afford it, hire a professional who will really do a great job. There are so many things like touching a spot on the ring, posing and walking in tune to the music, with his handler. These things have a certain rhythm about them and it only comes with more practice over a period of time. Nothing is gained overnight. Ensure that you take extra care with his teeth, coat and nails, as they earn marks. Bath time is known to be the best time to make it an enjoyable experience for him and yet give him a good cleaning down. When you take the canine for a walk, try to make him walk in sync with you, turn abruptly or stop suddenly. This will make him more alert and enable him to brush up his skills. Use any moment you get as a teaching class, so he will get better and better. And when he does something well, reward him. This will make him want to please you by doing it right every time. With the trouble you take, ensure that you enjoy it too, so that it is finally an enjoyment to you as well as the dog.