SERVICE DOG TRAINING: CAN YOU TEACH YOUR DOG TO BE A HERO?

Service dogs are used in many capacities from helping individuals gain greater independence in their personal lives through assisting workers in the important roles of their daily jobs. Dogs are used to guide the blind and deaf. Dogs are also used in support therapy for people in nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, day care centers and special needs schools to bring comfort and companionship to the young, elderly and disabled. "Cell Dogs" are trained in prison for the purpose of inmate rehabilitation. Canines are used as guard dogs, rescue dogs, police dogs, and military dogs and in many other services.

Working Dogs Guide (CA)

Just about any dog of good disposition can become a service dog. However the most common breeds selected are German Shepards and Labrador Retrievers. In some instances shelter dogs can make very good candidates. Whatever the breed, each dog must demonstrate certain abilities such as friendliness, staying calm, sitting on command, behaving well with other people and animals and ignoring distractions.

At a minimum, service dogs must have four-to-six month of basic dog obedience training and leash training. From there each dog goes through twelve-to-eighteen months of service-specific training for their projected role. Dog training is labor-intensive for both the dog and the trainer. When the training is complete placement is still not guaranteed. The final training phase is with the potential owner and can last from two-to-four months.

Service dogs provide many benefits to their human counterparts. Guide dogs to the blind and deaf assist people with daily living including grooming, mobility, household tasks and emergency alerts. Therapy dogs who visit the disabled and infirmed have been shown to bring relief from boring routines to the residents, add a distraction from pain, illness, depression, and homesickness; and lower blood pressure. Police, Military and Guard Dogs and all other dogs that fall under the category of protection dogs are trained to defend their handlers and territory.

While appreciating the value of service dogs espoused in this article, you may be asking what does the training of service dogs have to do with the dog obedience training of my pet? Your dog has more in common with service dogs than you think… If raised in the proper environment your dog should be trained in basic dog obedience commands and leash trained.

In many instances families have trained their dogs in basic service: barking at the sight of strangers, alerting parents if babies cry, ringing a bell at the door to go in or out of the home, fetching beverages from the refrigerator and some heroic acts such as calling 911 in a crisis situation. People can get quite inventive at what they train their dogs to do …

Many of us have trained our dogs to be our heroes. This website gladly welcomes you to share your story. Let us know what your dog has done to save you or at least help you on a daily basis. Our pets serve us in many ways everyday and we don’t realize it. Take a look at your dog and his/her contribution to you family and share it with us today!

If you would like to read more about the role and training of service dogs there are a few good websites: Working Dogs and Working Dog Web. For videos related to traditional dog obedience training programs there are some quality online resources. One such resource is "Secrets to Dog Training" which comes in digital download format. Another top-selling resource available in digital download format is "Dog Trainer Pro". For a complete training and nutrition regimen for your dog you may want to purchase "Dog Food Nutrition Guide" which is available in e-book and audio format.

Dog Obedience Training: Rewarding Successful Students and Trainers With Pet Gifts.

Dog training can be challenging for both the trainer(s) and the dog. But once success is achieved it is most likely that you will want to reward you canine campanion and any “training assistants” for a job well done. Buying gifts for dog lovers and other furry friends fall into two main categories -- pet gifts and people gifts.

Before buying gifts intended specifically for dogs there are a few important things that you should know about the dog:

** what is the general health and lifestyle of that dog
** is it a dog that is big or small
** is it a younger or older dog
** is it an active or passive pet

Food-related items or treats are generally not good ideas as dog gifts should the pet have allergies or digestive problems. Stick to toys related to the dog’s type and lifestyle.

If you are looking for a dog gift for that special someone who adores animals or perhaps a deserving animal friend, here are a few points to consider. Know the dog breed and specific preference of the person you are buying for. Rat terrier gifts are not good for pitbull owners. General pet themed gifts such as mugs, T-Shirts, calendars, etc. can be the most delightful and useful gifts for pet lovers.

Animal Den Beach Bum Tee

Do you know anyone who says, "I want to be a vet when I grow up!"? There are many educational toys out there for aspiring vets -- from toddlers to teens. Before buying any of the vet and science dog gifts for kids, be sure that they are age appropriate for the safety of the child and the pet as s/he may choose to "examine" the dog with their new educational toy!

If you are looking for some neat places to find dog gift or gifts for dog lovers I can recommend two websites Dog.com and AnimalDen.com. Whatever gift you select it shows your love of the pet to your family and friends. That is the most precious gift of all!

Dog Obedience Training Tips: From Monster to Marvel!

Are you a pet lover? Do you spoil your for-legged baby to death? Just remember, the sweetest dog can turn into a monster in a matter of weeks if not properly trained. Your canine companion can ruin everything from your favorite shoes to your bags to your clothes and your bed sheets to your curtains and your pillows. And that's just in one day! Think of Marley and Me ...

A badly behaved dog can also pose a risk to your children and family - especially larger breed dogs. Energetic puppies are notorious jumpers and they can knock down small children and frail elderly people causing needless injury. Dogs can also decide to use your house as a bathroom. They can snap at any one and every one if they become food aggressive and are not taught proper eating behaviors through obedience training.

Do you wish there was a way of teaching them not to do these things? Bad behavior is not genetic it is learned. It stems from a number of sources. Anxiety. Lack of Attention. Lack of Exercise. Pampering. Improper Nutrition. And, bad behavior can be just as readily unlearned through obedience training! It is a matter of commitment and time on a regular weekly basis...

Proper Dog Obedience Training Techniques will let your pet develop a healthy respect for your while you instill positive behaviors in your pet. It doesn't matter how old your dog is! You don't need to have a past knowledge of dog obedience training. You can learn to terminate your dog's disobedience very quickly. In minutes, you can convert your worst enemy into a best friend again – the pet that you love!

Proper Training Techniques will help eliminate many of the following behaviors:
· Pulling On the Leash - Do you feel like your dog walked you when you get back from walking your dog? Learn how to teach your dog to stop pulling on the leash!
· Chewing On Everything - Finally, be able to stop your dog from chewing on and destroying everything you own!
· Harassing Cats - Do you or a neighbor have a cat that is constantly being harassed by your dog? Learn how to stop this!
· Fighting Other Dogs - Is your dog aggressive towards other dogs, or has a bad habit of fighting other dogs? Learn how to stop this dangerous habit!
· Biting People - Does your dog nip or bite at other people? Learn how to stop this scary habit!
· Eating Feces - Does your dog eat feces? Learn how to stop this disgusting habit!
· Running Out the Door - Does your dog bolt out the door as soon as it is opened?
· Scared of Loud Noises - Does your dog get scared by loud noises? Learn what's causing this and how to stop it!
· Pulling Out Their Hair - Is your dog pulling out his/her hair? Learn what's wrong, and how to stop this!
· Biting Himself/Herself - Does your dog always seem to have a spot where he/she is constantly biting or nipping himself/herself? Learn exactly what to do to stop this!

Alternatives to traditional in-class and expensive dog obedience training programs are some quality online resources that can provide you with the tools you need to learn the proper dog obedience training techniques to teach your dog to become a well-behaved companion. One such resource is "Secrets to Dog Training" which comes in digital download format. Another top-selling resource available in digital download format is "Dog Trainer Pro". For a complete training and nutrition regimen for your dog you may want to purchase "Dog Food Nutrition Guide" which is available in e-book and audio format.

Why waste hundreds of dollars on the old-fashioned dog obedience training programs when you can have the benefit of saving all your resources and getting more effective results? Why wait? Check these dog obedience training products out and buy one today! These programs work with any dog breed and will let your dog be the faithful friend of the family he or she can be!