A dog can be a wonderful addition to your family, as long as everyone is prepared to put in the time and effort required. So many people think a puppy would make a wonderful present for their children, only to forget about them once the novelty has worn off.

Before you make the leap and introduce a new pet to your family make sure you know what to expect and that you?re prepared for all the consequences of bringing a new family member into your home.

Some of the things you should consider before you take the step of picking your puppy or dog.

Who is going to be responsible? It?s all well and good to tell your children that the new puppy is theirs to care for, but remember, the first time they have to choose between picking up after it and hangin? out with their friends you know there?s going to be a problem. So if there is no one prepared to step in and look after the animal on a regular basis perhaps re-thinking the gift would be a good idea.

Do you have room for it? Depending on what type of home you live in and what type of backyard you have, will be a major factor in both deciding on what type of dog you should get, along with whether or not you?re prepared to exercise the dog, if you don?t have the room to let it run free in the backyard. If you can?t supply the room for a dog to run or are not willing to exercise them on a regular basis then perhaps a dog is not right for you.

Are you a neat freak? No matter how well prepared you are, or how well you train your dog is, there will be accidents. These can range from the normal potty training problems to digging up your prize garden, chewing your new shoes, or shedding their hair on your lounge. If you?re not ready to put up with any of the above at some stage of the dog?s life then perhaps a dog is not right for you.

Can you afford it? Caring for a dog means more than just paying for its meals. While dinner time scraps are a common food source, they need more than that, particularly when they are young and still growing, a well balanced diet is essential. Food is not the only cost though. There are also the worm tablets, vet bills, registration fees and other costs associated with caring for your pet. If you are struggling to pay your bills now you shouldn?t add to those costs, as unfortunately all too often it?s the animal that misses out on what it needs.

These are just a few things to bear in mind when you?re thinking about getting a new dog. If, after reading the above points, and now knowing some of what is expected when you introduce a new dog into the family, you decide you still do want a dog, then yes, you do deserve one. Provided of course you can fulfil one other key requirement.

Being prepared to offer lots of love, caring and patience.

V Brown is a long time dog owner/lover and has recently introduced a new puppy into the family so has decided to start sharing her experiences as the training etc begins. If you’d like to know more please visit Life With A Dog

Many people feel that using an indoor kennel crate for their puppy is somehow cruel. Nothing could be further from the truth. When used properly, a crate can be one of the most valuable tools for training and maintaining your new puppy.

Dogs naturally love den-like enclosures and an indoor kennel crate will satisfy this desire. Dogs are also naturally reluctant to soil where they sleep so crating is an extremely effective housebreaking tool. Crating can keep a puppy away from potentially dangerous household items and can be moved from room to room whenever necessary.

Crating can help to ease separation anxiety and prevent destructive behaviour when you cannot physically supervise your puppy. When you have to leave your puppy alone or when you go to bed at night, you can rest assure that your puppy is not only safe, but he is also not chewing your furniture, electrical wires, rugs and so on.

It is very important that you introduce the crate to your puppy as a safe place to rest in. You should therefore never use the crate as a form of punishment. Your puppy should associate his crate with security, comfort and enjoyment. There are quite a few things that you can do to foster these positive feelings about the crate in your dog.

Drop pieces of food such as kibble or special treats in your puppy’s crate throughout the day. As your puppy discovers these treats it will reinforce the notion that the crate is a positive place. Along the same principle you can also feed your puppy in his crate.

When you first introduce your puppy to his crate, praise and fondle him when he goes inside. Make a game of it by including rewarding him with treats when he enters. Never attempt to force your dog into his crate. However, at night when going to bed you may have to place your puppy inside and then shut the door. It is recommended that you place the crate near to your bed to reduce your puppy’s anxiety at night. Dogs are pack animals and do not like to sleep alone.

It is an excellent idea to begin crating your puppy for short periods of time while you are home with him. This will prevent your puppy from making the negative association that going into his crate means that you will be leaving him alone.

It is important to allow your dog the opportunity to fully eliminate before he goes into his crate. Young puppies have very little bladder and sphincter control so you should not crate your pet for extended periods of time. Puppies under 4 months of age should not be crated more than 3 hours. Except for overnight, puppies and dogs should not be crated for more than 5 hours at a time.

Always remove your dogs’ collar before crating. Ensure that your crate is the proper size. If it is too big, your puppy may eliminate in one end of the crate and sleep in the other. If this occurs you may have to block off a section of the crate to discourage this behaviour.

Many dogs who are properly introduced to crating at a young age grow to like their crate as their place to rest and get away from it all. This is ideal for owners because you can then use your crate when travelling or visiting and not have to worry about your dog. He has his safe, secure place to go.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Dog Training

An untrained dog is a direct reflection on you, the pet owner, and how much you care about the dog. In fact a dog that is not trained becomes a nuisance to the owner and the environment. You can probably give to your dog basic obedience training, i.e. teaching it to respond to simple commands. Whether it’s a puppy or a fully-grown dog you can teach them with a little effort on your part.

Dogs are intelligent animals. They have been trained to do specific tasks like sniffing out drugs and explosives and performing search and rescue missions. All these are possible by the efforts of the dog owner. But how can you train your dog to obey you?

First, you need to know about the genetic make up of your dog. Like wolves, dogs are hierarchy conscious. They instinctively gravitate toward living in pack under a leader. Your family is your dog’s pack and it needs to understand that you are the leader.

Even as a puppy, your dog can learn that it is subordinate to you. How? Try holding its gaze with your eyes until it looks away. Also, rubbing the dog’s belly while on its back is a good exercise, as this puts it in a submissive position. If your dog is being a nuisance and does not stop when you say ‘No’, try ignoring it or leaving the room.

When your dog responds to your commands, it is acknowledging that you are in charge. If you, as the owner, do not establish your position of leadership, your pet may conclude that it is equal or superior to you and this might affect its behavior.

To teach your dog basic commands, you will need a collar, a leash and plenty of patience. For successful training, you will have to follow the steps below:

a. Give a simple, one-word command, b. demonstrate the desired action and c. immediately give praise when the action is done. Your tone of voice is more important than the word you use. A command should be given in an affirmative tone and praise be given in a happy, affectionate tone.

Physical punishment, such as hitting or kicking, is not necessary. Simply say ‘No’ in a sharp tone, prolonging the vowel, so that the dog will know that you are displeased with its performance. A dog is intelligent enough to know when you are rewarding or reprimanding.

If anything more drastic is needed, you might grasp the dog by the scruff of its neck and shake it lightly while saying ‘No’. Reprimands should be given during or immediately following the undesirable behavior. Remember, a dog cannot discern why it is being scolded if scolding occurs minutes or hours after the act. Neither does it understand why a certain action is acceptable on one occasion but not on another, so be consistent.

Training of a dog is a continuous process, but the nucleus for all obedience is the command ‘Sit!’ if your dog understands this basic command it becomes quite easy to train your dog in the other basic commands. For example, you can tell your dog to sit when it begins to jump on visitors. To teach your dog to sit, put the leash on it and give the command while pushing down on its hindquarters and gently pulling its head up with the leash. Give praise immediately. Repeat these steps until the dog obeys the command on its own.

To teach your dog to remain in the position, use the command ‘Stay!’ while standing in front and putting your hand out with the palm facing flat toward the dog. If the dog moves, say ‘No’ and place it back into position. Repeat the command and praise the dog when it stays sitting for a short period. Gradually increase the time it sit and then the distance between you and the dog as it responds to the command.

The best way to teach your dog to come to you is to use a long leash and give a gentle tug while calling your dog’s name and giving the command ‘Come!’. Back up as the dog moves towards you and continue to praise. Soon it will respond to your call without being prompted by the leash. Never use the word ‘Come’ for a negative reason, such as to reprimand. Your dog must learn that responding to ‘come’ will bring pleasurable results, whether praise or a food treat. If you lose your patience while teaching this command, your dog will learn that coming is unpleasant and will be avoided.

You can teach your dog to walk by your side without pushing ahead or lagging behind. To do this without stress, use a link-chain training collar and a short leash. With the dog on your left, give the command ‘Heel!’ and step out with the left foot. If your dog attempts to push ahead or lag back, give a quick, sharp jerk on the leash and repeat the command. Give praise for compliance.

Remember, a dog is a social and intelligent animal. Long period of confinement can lead to excessive barking, hyperactivity and destructive behavior. But with training, your dog can become a delightful, loyal companion instead of a nuisance.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Dog Training

Why We Like Dogs Better Than People

Most dogs are less exasperating than people. Think about it:

Has your dog ever asked you for your car keys?

Has your dog ever asked you for a loan?

Has any dog borrowed your tools and then not returned them?

Has your dog ever ignored you when you come home from work? (If so, get a new dog.)

Has your dog ever not thanked you for what you do? (Well, didn?t you see his tail wagging?)

Has your dog ever asked you why you want him to do unnatural things like walk between your legs while you are walking, to stand on his hind legs, to jump through your arms when you hold them like a loop, or to play dead?

Did your dog ever ask you if you wanted him to guard your property?

Dogs are perfect except I have never got one to pay board and room─except by unconditional love.

Okay, the article was rejected for too few words. Let?s try a poem if I can dream one up here.

If your dog bites your hand

When you feed him,

It?s not a dog,

It?s a ferret.

If your dog hates your cats,

Barks all night,

And poops on your rug,

It?s a dog.

That aught to do it!

The End

John T. Jones, Ph.D. (tjbooks@hotmail.com, a retired VP of R&D for Lenox China, is author of detective & western novels, nonfiction (business, scientific, engineering, humor), poetry, etc. Former editor of Ceramic Industry Magazine, Jones is Executive Representative of International Wealth Success. He calls himself Taylor Jones, the hack writer.

More info: http://www.tjbooks.com

Business web site: http://www.bookfindhelp.com (IWS wealth-success books and kits and business newsletters / TopFlight flagpoles)

Many dogs today suffer from itchy skin caused by a variety of factors. Dogs actually have more sensitive skin than humans, and are often exposed to a variety of irritants in their environment. These grooming tips may help alleviate your dog?s constant itching.

Brushing your dog daily will remove pollens, grasses, and other outdoor irritants as well as stimulating the skin?s circulation and preventing matting. Brush carefully and down to the skin, taking care not to tug on tangles, and using a soft bristle brush on sensitive areas.

Bathing should also be done on a monthly basis, following a thorough brushing. Use a natural, low lather, low irritant shampoo, wet your dog down thoroughly with lukewarm water, and apply the shampoo using your hands. Avoid getting water or shampoo in his eyes and ears, and lather all over, right down to his skin, then rinse thoroughly. Shampoo residue is a major cause of skin irritation for dogs. After rinsing, towel dry your dog, and avoid using any coat finishers or blow dryers, which can also cause skin irritation in a sensitive dog.

Grooming is essential for a dog?s skin health, helps you identify skin problems early on, and is a great way for you to bond with your dog as well!

About The Author

Alexandra DeBoer is the creator of a low-lather shampoo line for sensitive dogs. You can learn more about her company at: www.barknbath.com.

bow-wow@barknbath.com

All training starts with taking advantage of your dog?s natural inclinations to reinforce the behavior you want. The only place your dog will not, by nature, mess, is its sleeping place. Crate training works with your dog?s instinct – he never has the opportunity to be ?bad.?

Crate training is fairly intense for you. The rule is: if you are not actively paying attention to your dog, your dog is in the crate. Period. Even if you?re in the same room. If you?re not watching your puppy, it?s in the crate. If you think ?caging? your dog is cruel, get over it. It?s worse for your dog not to know the rules of the house.

Crate training is not an excuse to ignore your dog for hours at a time. A puppy cannot go more than a couple of hours during the day without a ?bathroom break.? If your dog learns to mess in its crate the behavior is very difficult to correct. It?s one of the biggest challenges when adopting strays or rescues from shelters. It can be done, but requires patience and dedication.

Dogs should be taken out at regular intervals; after meals, after naps and after play sessions. And ?business? walks are not playtime. Put the collar and leash on, take the dog to a specific spot you want it to use for its toilet area, give your dog a command ?go potty.? If it does, reward it with praise and cookies, say ?good go potty.? Forget about public embarrassment. If you?re easily embarrassed, don?t get a dog. Of course you can use any words you want – a friend of ours used ?hit it? with her dogs. She just had to be careful not to use the phrase under other circumstances.

Your puppy should also sleep in the crate, ideally in your bedroom. Dogs are social animals, they need to know their ?pack? or family, is close by. If the dog wakes you in the night, take it out on leash. Give it 10 minutes to ?do its business,? go back in, pop him in his crate, say goodnight and go back to bed. Don?t let the dog out by itself, even in a fenced yard. Again, this isn?t playtime.

As your dog learns what?s expected of him, the next phase is to keep the dog on leash, out of the cage. Tie the leash around a belt loop so that you can go about your daily routine with both hands free. Keep one eye on the dog. When you see his ?gotta go? signals, drop what you?re doing and go. Some people are successful in hanging a bell on the doorknob. They ring the bell whenever they take the dog out. The dog learns, over time, to ring the bell when it has to go. Others teach their dogs to ?speak? as a signal to go out.

Our dogs are always crated when we leave the house. At this point, they see us reaching for their crate toys (which we stuff with a little peanut butter or kibble) and run for their crates. We don?t necessarily even lock the crates, but they are available to the dogs at all times. It?s their ?room,? a safe place they can always go to.

Just a note of caution and safety: never leave a collar or harness on your dog in the crate. It can get caught and cause problems.

Hope Saidel is the co-owner of GollyGear, a bricks-and-mortar and online small dog shop featuring fun, affordable and practical products for small dogs. She has trained and competed in Obedience with small dogs for over a decade and is on the Board of Directors of the North Shore Dog Training Club. Check out her blog: GollyLog.

Keeping the attention of a shih tzu while training is not always easy. Shih Tzu can be easily distracted, and it is important to not allow the training sessions to be sabotaged by boredom. Making training fun for the shih tzu and the human alike is vital to creating a happy, well adjusted and well trained shih tzu.

Providing random positive stimuli during the day is a great way to keep the interest of the shih tzu. Doing things the shih tzu enjoys, like walking in the park, riding in the car, and playing with other dogs, is a great way to keep the shih tzu?s attention and reward him for small successes.

For instance, in order to reward the shih tzu for coming to you, for instance, ask the shih tzu to come to you, without giving any clues about a walk, a car ride, or other treats. After the shih tzu has come to you and obediently sat down, attach the leash and start the reward. This can be either the aforementioned walk in the park, ride in the car, or anything else the shih tzu likes to do.

Providing some kind of reward, whether a treat, a special outing, or just a scratch behind the ears, every time the shih tzu does something you want, is a great way to keep your shih tzu motivated. If the shih tzu knows something great is going to happen every time he obeys your command, he will be motivated to please you every time.

Distraction training

When training any shih tzu, it is important to not let distractions disrupt the training. The shih tzu must be taught to ignore distractions, such as other people, other dogs, other animals and loud noises, and focus on what is being taught These types of distractions can even be used as rewards when training the shih tzu to come when called.

For instance, if your shih tzu enjoys playing with other dogs, whether in a local dog park or with the neighbor?s dogs, let him play freely with those other dogs. Then go into the park or yard and call your shih tzu. When he comes to you, provide lots of praise, treats and other rewards, then immediately allow the shih tzu to go back to playing with his friends. Repeat this several times and praise the shih tzu each time he comes to you. The shih tzu will quickly learn that coming to you means good things (treats and praise) and not bad ones (being taken away from the park).

If the shih tzu does not master this particular type of training right away, try not to get discouraged. So called distraction training is one of the most difficult things to teach. Dogs are naturally social animals, and breaking away from the pack is one of the most difficult things you can ask your shih tzu to do. Most dogs will be understandably reluctant to leave their canine companions, but it is important to persist.

Training the shih tzu to come to you may require some creativity on your part at first. For instance, waving a favorite toy, or a lure, is a great way to get your shih tzu?s attention and put the focus back on you. If your shih tzu has been clicker trained, a quick click can be a good motivator as well.

Once the shih tzu begins to get the hang of coming when called, you can begin to reduce and eliminate the visual cues and focus on getting the shih tzu to respond to your voice alone. It is important that the shih tzu respond to voice commands alone, since you will not always have the availability of a toy or other lure.

Connie Limon is a shih tzu breeder. She publishes a FREE weekly newsletter. A professional newsletter with a focus upon health and wellness for you and your pets. Discounts are offered to subscribers. Sign up at: http://www.stainglassshihtzus.com

The term dog training can mean many different things – this is an important fact to remember when deciding what exactly you need to do with your dog.

First, there is behavior training.

This is the kind of dog training in which a dog is taught to be good. Usually this would include house training, good behavior around other people and dogs, and other small things that make a dog a much more pleasant companion. A well-behaved dog attracts no special notice from members of the public (apart from occasional comments about their good manners).

Next, there is obedience training, which is teaching the dog how to perform specific activities.

This can include traditional obedience exercises such as heeling. The emphasis here is on prompt and precise performance. While there can be many overall benefits to this kind of dog training, the training is not necessarily used in order to improve the dog’s behavior.

Dogs that have been obedience trained will perform tasks when their owners ask them to do so. (Although, some obedience trained dogs may well behave poorly!)

Activity training refers to dog training for specific activities – this could include hunting, herding, search and rescue or any of a number of activities designed to show off the abilities of the dog and his handler. These days, such activity also includes sports such as frisbee, flyball and agility.

At times, these dog training methods can cross over somewhat.

A certain amount of obedience training will help with behaviors, for example. A dog that is heeling will not pull on the leash.

You will still want to keep this in mind when selecting a training class, however, so that it best matches your needs. For many pet owners, the behavior-oriented classes are the best way to learn how to understand and control your dog. For those of you who want to enjoy a sport or compete in an activity with your dog, you will need to move along to more complex dog training.

You need to be fully aware of whether or not your dog needs behavior modification (where you will have to find out the underlying reason why your dog digs holes) or obedience training (to understand commands).

The two may be related: a dog that digs because it is bored may become less bored with obedience training and stop digging. It is important, however, to understand that the dog stopped digging because it was no longer bored not that it now knows how to heel. You will need to modify your approach, or select a trainer to help you, with behavior vs. training in mind.

Please also remember not to punish the dog whilst training. Punishment is not a training aid. It does little to foster willingness to learn and achieve. Limit yourself to a firm no and to using your hands to block the dog’s negative actions. Refrain from hitting or physically abusing the dog.

Display extreme levels of patience and persistence, and never give up; if you do, you are relinquishing your status as the dominant one. The dog is bound by nature and genetics to test how far he can push you or get away with disobeying you. You must display a stern and stoic attitude and do not pat, praise, or reward the dog if he does not pay attention or refuses to do as you have asked. Only yield once your commands are followed. If you heel instead of your dog then he will soon know who is the boss.

Use rewards and praise as often as required. Praise should immediately be forthcoming when a dog responds to any command. The pet will associate responding to commands with praise/rewards (treats) and will try and respond quicker to reap his rewards. Once a command/trick has been mastered then the treats can be withdrawn. You will find that obeying a command becomes second nature to your dog.

Keep the lessons simple. To begin with, the lessons should be fairly easy and such that the dog can complete it within two-three actions. As his level of learning increases the lessons could be more complex. Just as our children go, at first to play school, then to kindergarten, and then to the first grade so also in the case of our pets.

Whether you are a first time dog owner or a seasoned veteran, your learning never stops as far as it comes to training your dog. Each and every dog presents different training challenges, and the more equipped you are to handle these training issues the more likely you are to prevent any permanent and long term future behavioral problems.

Visit David’s site at http://www.dog-training-for-idiots.com to learn very useful tips on how to train your dog.

If you are having behavioral issues with your dog that you cannot seem to resolve on your own, getting professional help is an excellent idea. However, there are two different kinds of professionals that can help you with your situation: a Dog Training School, and an Animal Behavior Specialist. Which one is right for you and your pet?

The answer to this question lies in whether or not the behavior that the dog is exhibiting is normal, or explainable. For instance, if a dog is threatened in a violent manner (horrible to think about, but it does happen), then it would be appropriate for the dog to bite in retaliation. However, if a dog starts biting you after you feed him a treat, this isn?t as easily explained. In this second situation, you?d want to access an Animal Behavior Specialist to get some help, instead of one of the many readily available Dog Training Schools.

Most behavioral issues with dogs are related to pet owners who aren?t aware as to how to manage their dogs. For instance, jumping on people or things, pulling on their leash, not listening or responding to commands or eliminating in the home are all management issues. These can normally be treated with obedience training through a Dog Training School.

Dog Training Schools are usually staffed with professionals who have received formalized training in the field of animal behavior modification. The methods used in these programs teach you how to think like your dog, and communicate with each other better. They also help your dog to understand his place, what is expected of him, and how to stop negative behaviors, and replace them with positive ones.

If any of these behaviors are apparent in your dog, are causing a problem in your home, you?ll need to contact a Dog Training School as soon as you are able, in order to start the training process quickly. These Dog Training Schools can correct behavior in as little as a couple of weeks.

Animal Behaviorists are professionally trained as well, but rather academically rather than vocationally. Their training normally includes some sort of graduate work in psychology, biology, chemistry, neurology, zoology and the like. They will also have specialized training in the types of animals they work with. These professionals are equipped to deal with the more serious of the behavioral issues in a pooch, such as aggression, fears, anxiety or compulsions.

After reading this article, choosing the proper professional to help you help your pet shouldn?t be terribly difficult. Now all you need to do is find an appropriate person; ask friends, people who work at the local pet store and your vet for recommendations. Soon the negative behavior will only be a memory in your loved one.

(c) 2005 dog-training-info.com. This article may be republished as long as these bylines are included. Kevin Simmons is the webmaster of http://www.dog-training-info.com. Please visit the site for more free dog training articles. Online URL for this article: http://www.dog-training-info.com/dog-training-school.htm

A puppy often bites and nips as part of his natural play behavior. Biting and nipping by a puppy when in the dog family is an acceptable form of play behavior and if the puppy becomes overly aggressive the biting is dealt with immediately by the other member of the dog pack who is being bitten too harshly. If the puppy should bite another puppy too hard,the offended puppy will yelp loudly and scurry away, to go nurse his wounds or play with someone else. In the case of the alpha dog or the mother of the pup, she will firmly and immediately place her entire mouth over the pup’s head and neck and hold him down, or she will gently but equally as firmly place her foot over him and hold him down. Often this is accompanied with a low growl. Sometimes the disciplined puppy will yelp out of surprise for her punishment is swift and intended to teach a lesson. The mother is a firm but gentle disciplinarian. In either case, the puppy who is the aggressive biter is quickly taught that he committed a serious offense.

When a puppy doesn’t know the body language of other dogs, he can get into more trouble in many areas other than the biting problem. Not only does he not know how to bite gently, he doesn’t know how to greet alpha members of the pack, or how to behave submissively upon meeting new dogs, or how to respond to aggression from other dogs so that a fight does not ensue. He has never learned pack behavior and how to respond to other dogs, how to inhibit his bite, how to face discipline and how to submit to discipline.

This is quite common if a family acquires a puppy who was removed early from his littermates and his dog family. Unfortunately there are many puppies who have come from backgrounds where the breeders do not know or do not care if the pup is taken away from the littermates at an early age. For optimum learning of pack behavior a puppy should remain within the canine family unit until the age of at least 8 weeks and preferably 12 weeks. It is common for new puppies in a human family to bite and nip the children they are playing with and to bite and nip the adults in the family also. If he has never learned appropriate pack behavior, he often bites too hard.

There is a very successful way to teach bite inhibition, which is not painful to the puppy but actually utilizes natural dog language. Bite inhibition is geared to teaching the puppy to bite softly, rather than stopping the behavior entirely. This is especially useful if you have a working dog that you will be training to retrieve, or to work as an assistance dog, where he must pick up and carry items in his mouth. It is also useful for training herding dogs who may still be expected to nip at livestock. This is not necessarily important for other breeds such as toy dogs, however, it is still an effective method of teaching a dog so that his nipping behaviors will not physically lead to breaking the skin or actually biting.

What the human master will actually do is take over the part of the littermate of the puppy or the dam of the puppy. You have to inform the puppy in no uncertain terms, that biting HURTS. This is done by yelling OUCH loudly when the puppy nips at you and immediately retreating away from the puppy. This is exactly what another puppy would do if he was bitten too hard by a littermate. You can expand upon this by actually allowing the puppy to nip at your hand, even quite softly and when he does, act as if he really did hurt you, even when he didn’t! The puppy will believe that he has hurt you and will mouth even more gently the next time!

Alternatively, you can also grab the puppy by the scruff of the neck and pin him down for a moment or two to the floor, which is what the puppy’s dam would do when teaching him not to bite. When you use this maneuver, you can growl menacingly at the pup, don’t bite!

It is important that you administer either one of these quickly and immediately when the puppy bites. Both of these methods are much more effective if used on a puppy before the age of 12 weeks. After that age, the best way to inform the puppy of his bad behavior is to simply stalk away haughtily when the puppy nips; show him quite obviously that you will have absolutely nothing to do with him the instant he uses his teeth.

An important component of training this behavior is to inform all members of the family and all people who come into contact with your puppy that they are not to play tug of war with the dog. This is the opposite of soft mouthing behavior and will quickly undo the changes that you have accomplished in the puppy’s behavior.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Dog Training