By Kelly Marshall

When looking into training your dog you will notice that there are quite a few different ways in which you can do it. Each different dog training school teaches differently, so how do you know which ways are right and which ways are wrong? Also what skills are actually needed to make you a god dog handler?

The Skills You Need to Be a Dog Handler

Whilst professional dog handlers may make it look easy, it can actually be a lot of hard work. This means that first of all you will need a dedication to your dog and you will also need a lot of patience. It is so easy to become agitated and frustrated throughout training but if you are to train your dog properly, you are going to have to learn to be more patient than usual and encourage them as much as possible instead of snapping and dragging your dog around.

Another thing many people do not think about is that their body language is also actually quite important in dog training. So not only do you have to be aware of what your dog is doing, but you also need to know what your body is doing too as this is what judges look at during obedience competitions. Three important tips to remember include:

· Hand Signals should be used

· Always be consistent

· Know Your Dog

Both of these tips are important and you will find that in proper dog training you will mainly be using hand signals to tell your dog what is expected of them. However in order to teach hand signals you need to first teach voice signals. Once your dog is comfortable with voice commands, start introducing hand signals into the training. At first you may need to make your signals overly enthusiastic. This will help to grab the dog’s attention and they will start associating certain commands with certain hand signals. However as the dog becomes more experienced you will need to gradually stop giving such enthusiastic signals and make them a little more subtle. In competitions dog handlers give slight signals only and it is all about subtle control of over your dog.

Consistency is also an extremely important thing to remember when training any dog. You have to be consistent in order for the dog to learn anything. All dogs are different but mainly they do take a while to learn things and training sessions should be kept short. By making lessons short and fun your dog will soon start to look forward to the sessions and they will be eager to please you also. So if in the beginning your dog does not always do everything that they are told, do not show your frustration and simply gently correct the dog and be consistent. Your consistency will pay off in the end and you will end up with a trained and happy dog.

Finally the third tip is to know your dog. You need to know how your dog will react in certain situations and you need to know if they are capable of doing what you are asking them to do. There are different training methods available and not all of them are suitable for your dog. For example, if you have a gentle dog then it is certainly not a good idea to treat them rough and firm as they will soon become scared of training and they will not want to know about what you want from them, they will simply not want to do it because they are frightened of the consequences.

Overall remember these tips and you should find that you have a well behaved dog who is capable of competing at a professional level.

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For more articles by Kelly Marshall on EzineArticles.com, see this interesting article on dietary needs for your dog

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Labels: Dog Care

By Brigitte Smith

Your dog is really a member of your family, and you will do anything you can to make sure that he is happy and healthy. In order to do this, you need the right dog information to make the right decisions regarding your best friend. Perhaps the most important decision you will ever make in this regard is the decision of which dog food to feed your pet. This is an important decision, as it will affect every other part of your dog's life.

The most popular types of dog food on the market today can be grouped into three categories: grocery store pet food, premium pet food, and natural pet food. All three kinds are readily available online and from a variety of local stores. Search the internet to find out more about the types of pet food available, as well as other dog information.

Grocery store foods are the most commonly seen type of pet food. They are targeted to the largest amount of people and are in relatively high profile. But unfortunately, these foods are often sub par and contain poor-quality ingredients. These companies often outsource their labor, and the substantial pet food recall in the news last year goes to show you what can happen.

Premium foods are somewhat more expensive to buy, and can be found only in pet specialty stores. These foods can range in quality from the grocery store foods all the way up to natural foods. This is a large category of dog foods. If you want dog information regarding a particular food, your pet store employees should be able to tell you what you want to know.

The third category of pet foods is that of natural and organic food. Examples of brands from this category would be Life's Abundance dog food and Wysong dog food. Almost without exception, foods in this category are great in quality and offer optimum nutrition for your dog. They have everything your dog needs to maintain his energy and youth for a long time to come. You'll have to shop at specialty stores (either physical stores or online ones) to find this type of food, since they aren't mass marketed. When you order from these stores, you'll typically have the option of having the product delivered right to your door.

Each breed is different and have different nutritional needs. The food requirements also are affected by weight. Collecting enough dog information is paramount before choosing a particular brand of dog food. There aren't many brands that meet the highest standards of pet food manufacturing.

Proper dog information is important in helping you care for your beloved pet. It's especially important to make an informed choice about your dog's food. While grocery store dog foods and premium food may be readily available, natural and organic foods such as Lifes Abundance Dog Food and Wysong Dog Food are made with human-grade ingredients and all the nutrients dogs need for a healthy and happy life. These foods are a little harder to find, but they are worth seeking out. Check to see if they are available at specialty retail stores in your area. Online ordering is a convenient option.

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Labels: Dog Care

By Richard Cussons

Who wouldn't be tempted to cuddle a well-groomed and clean Labrador Retriever? They are every dog owners pride. But every dog owner should always remember that grooming and cleaning is not merely to make your Labrador Retriever look good. Grooming and cleaning is important in maintaining the general health condition of your dog.

Bathing is one of the many responsibilities of a dog owner. However, bathing your dog too often is not good for his skin. The frequency of the bath depends on your dog's breed and his type of activities. As for the Labrador Retriever, give him a bath when he is really dirty especially if he has stayed out and worked a lot. You can also use your nose to tell if your dog needs a bath. Bathing him too often than needed will strip the skin's natural protective oil resulting to dry, itchy skin and will irritate the skin further when scratched.

If the weather is good and warm, you can bath your dog outside. Make sure to choose a place that will not turn into mud when it gets wet. If you think that bathing outside seems unappealing to your dog, wash him inside and try to use warm water. But before the bath begins, prepare everything- shampoo or conditioner, towel, comb and even dog treats or toys. Remember to use a shampoo specially formulated to work on problems such as fleas and ticks, dry itchy skin, doggy odor, abnormal shedding and others.

Start bathing your dog from the head and work towards the tail. Wash his face with wash cloth. Avoid pouring lots of water in his face to prevent it from getting inside the ears. You may also want to place cotton balls inside his ears to make sure water cannot enter. Water in the ears is not good for dogs and can cause health problems such as ear infection.

Thoroughly wet your dog with water using a pitcher or a spray nozzle. If you are using spray nozzle, make sure that the spray is not too strong. Avoid spraying directly into your dog's face or genital. Apply dog shampoo and work from the head to the tail. Remember to read and understand the product labels carefully. While shampooing, pay particular attention to parts like rectum, between the toes, behind the ears and under the chin.

After shampoo, rinse your dog thoroughly to prevent shampoo residue that may possibly cause skin irritations. Dry your dog's coat using towel. But be careful not to rub because coats of some breeds tangle easily.

Some dog owners think that bathing a dog is so difficult, but with the right knowledge and technique, bathing a dog is not a challenge anymore.

Richard Cussons writes articles about Labrador Retriever and other dog breeds. Discover Labrador dog training tips at labradorsavvy.com.

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Labels: Dog Behavior, Dog Care, Dog Training