Training a Puppy on the Basics

It is always a joyous occasion when you first bring home a new puppy. The first thing you will need to do is to work on manners. Training a puppy can be a trying time in a persons life, but it is needed to mold your puppy into an obedient individual. It's always nice when people compliment you on how well-behaved your puppy is. Early training will help your pup grow into a well adjusted adult dog and make for an excellent companion.

Housebreaking - Housebreaking can be accomplished with less stress when a crate is used. Make sure to purchase a crate that will be large enough for the puppy when s/he is full grown. This area should have bedding and lots of toys inside. The puppy should spend no more than a couple of hours in the crate at a time, then be allowed outside to relieve him/herself. Let the pup run around the house a bit before going back in the crate. A routine will set in after you know the puppy's bathroom schedule.

Stop the Chewing - Chewing seems to be a pastime of all puppies. Some do this out of boredom, while others are trying to find relief from new teeth emerging. If it is a teething situation, place some crushed ice inside an old sock and tie a knot in the end. Let the pup chew on this every now and then, storing it in the freezer when not in use. If the pup begins chewing on an item that isn't a dog toy, take the object away while saying, "No!" and then place one of his/her toys in place of the forbidden object.

Socializing the Puppy - Puppies sometimes need to hang out with other canines, even though they are very dependent on humans. If you happen to know other puppies of a similar age, try to arrange play dates.

This will allow interaction with other dogs, as well as plenty of time to wrestle and rough house with puppies. When you take your puppy for a walk and come across other dogs, check with the owners to see if it might be alright to introduce your puppy to their puppy or dog. This can be a great way to meet new playmates.

Halt Jumping - There's nothing as frustrating as a muddy dog that jumps up onto people. Teaching a puppy to not jump up is easier than fighting with a large dog that has this habit. If the puppy starts jumping, simply turn your back on him/her until s/he calms down. Talking to the puppy, even if you're trying to reprimand him/her, only shows approval.

The words don't mean anything to a puppy, eye contact and talking seem like a positive thing to him/her. Once s/he is calm, provide a treat so that good behavior is rewarded.

There needs to be a constant routine when training a puppy. Try not to become discouraged with the whole process. Consistency also helps to speed up training, since repetition puts the idea inside little puppy brains much faster. Be prepared for some whining and crying when using the crate for housebreaking, this is perfectly normal and will pass with time.

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Introduction to Dog Leash Training

A dog is a hunter by personality. He loves to travel around, know his surroundings and show his control and control over the position. Leash training the dog can be divided into two chapters:

1. Introduction to the leash

2. Leash mannerism.

Like all the other central obedience dog training sessions, the leash training must also be commence to the dog in his puppy stage. The puppy must be made normal to the leash only when he turn out to be greater than 4 weeks old. Sooner than three weeks, it is not worthwhile to bring the little pup in make contact with outside surroundings.

The immature innocent pup turn out to be a devil at the age of six weeks. He can run very quicker than any adult. Thus it is very important to keep him below leash when taking out so as to be sure his safety.

Introduction To Leash training

* Select a high-quality comfortable leash for your pup and let him scrutinize it. Let him have fun with it for a while taking care he must not chew the mean time. Turn away him in some other action before putting the collar round his neck. Make sure the collar is neither be choking tight nor it should be loose enough.

* When effectively tied the collar, do not take the lead straight away. Let him go around the house with the lead and get familiarized to this new jewellery.

* After a some hours, take hold of the lead without causing any stress over the knot. Try to walk with dog. This habit reduces the stress over dog's neck and also makes the little canine feel safe and protected.

* The puppy may be made routine of the lead and the leash by making him wear the same at the time of custom walks. This also helps the puppy to connect the leash as a signal to an forthcoming adventure!

Leash Mannerism

The pup gets very excited the second you get his lead. He comes to identify that it is the time for outgoing! His excitement many a times makes it complex to stick the leash to his collar.

So as to make the most out of the leash without bothering the dog, you need to follow a few set of rules.

1. When taking the dog outside, call him by his name, grant him the sit orders followed by "stay" orders and then fix the lead to his collar. This helps out in straighten out down the keyed up dog and put away much of your time.

2. The dog gets all set to move out the second he is on with his leash. A developed big dog might pull you with him! To stay away from this drawing habit, you only need to sit silently after setting up the lead. This will make the jumping dog feel that you are not departing anywhere and he will get silently and settled. That is the second when you must grab the lead, praise the dog and move out of the room without showing any over excitement!

3. The time you moving out with your dog, you should stay ready for a number of horrible encounters waiting for you ahead. A stray dog or a squirrel, a biker or just a passerby, anything can trigger the dog's aggression. The moment you see such object approaching, give your dog a orders to sidetrack his attention. Bear in mind, do not tight the grip of the lead. If you do so, the dog will sense your tension.

4. Once you have mastered in controlling such encounters, you can unleash the dog and set him free to run.

These basic steps will help your dog to become your best walking escort! Find out more about dog training [http://www.traindogshome.com/].

Professional dog trainer: [http://www.traindogshome.com/]

Tips For Training Your Golden Retriever

All right - you've finally made the decision to get yourself a sweet little Golden Retriever puppy, and now you want to know how to train it. Well, you've come to the right place. We're going to give you some of the best tips on training your Golden Retriever.

One thing is for sure. Golden Retriever puppies love to chew. They're going to chew the hell out of your slippers, curtains, shoes - or anything they can get their paws on! So this is an area where we will focus first. The fact is, they are going to chew because they are teething, and need to chew on something.

So, giving them chew toys may help you solve this problem, but here's something else you can do. Take some ice cubes, and fill them in an old sock. Knot the sock at the top, and place it in the freezer. When you see your dog getting itchy to chew something, give him the sock then. Make sure you stick around to see that they don't accidentally swallow it or choke themselves on it.

Another good tip for training your Golden Retriever is to develop a daily routine for it. Water and food should be given in the same place every meal to ensure that the pup knows where it has to go to eat and drink. Ideally, your dog should be getting three meals (Lunch, Evening snack, Dinner) at similar times each day to regularize his eating habits. The pup should also grow up knowing where it will sleep every night. It should be in the same place.

Timings should also be applied to ensure that the dog understands what time it should sleep and get up. Most importantly, timings for walks and going to the bathroom should be regularized with a vengeance. Golden Retrievers love to walk, and have a keen sense of direction. They always want to know that everything is okay in their surroundings, and where stuff is kept. Having a schedule for your Golden Retriever gives him confidence in knowing that things are routine, and predictable. It also makes him trust you and depend on you.

It is easy to teach your Golden Retriever pup some new words. An easy tip for training your Golden Retriever is to teach words with phonetic meaning. For example, you can teach it to understand 'no' with a phonetic 'nooooooo' or 'Uh-huh' or 'NO!' or 'Stop'. Similarly, you can pet the dog and praise it with phonetic sounds like 'good boy' or 'good' or 'that's good'. Dogs can feel the difference in your tone more than they grasp the word itself. You will see them grasp these commands much faster this way along with 'sit',' stand', etc. Teach them to 'stay' in their dog house or crate when they sleep using this technique as well.

Once they are over 3 to 6 months old, you can increase the number of commands to include sitting for long periods of time, lying down, stop barking, interact with other pets and guests, walk properly when on the leash, to come when you call, to give you an object or fetch it for you, among many others. You can teach them to react to tugs on the leash, such as moving in the direction of the tug. You can get them used to the idea of a collar and leash by letting them move freely with it attached and not holding it.

Hopefully the above tips for training your Golden Retriever will make things a lot easier for you.

Looking for information on golden retrievers? If you are looking for advice on tips for training your golden retriever or house breaking your golden retriever, visit us now. GoldenRetrieverAdvice.org is a goldmine for information on everything related to golden retrievers.

Timex Ironman Watches - High Tech Training Aids

Timex Ironman watches are specifically designed for the extreme athletics of the Ironman competitions. These athletic events include swimming (usually in the ocean or a lake), biking and running a marathon. As you can imagine the amount of training needed to get in good enough shape to compete in Ironman is immense. Athletes must be in top shape to even consider competing and then they must train to get their bodies conditioned to compete in all three events. To do this they must carefully monitor their time and bodily functions - specifically their heart rate.

Timex Ironman watches contain features such as heart rate monitors and lap timers to help in this training process. Many of the Ironman styles are solar powered, containing a rechargeable lithium-ion battery that pulls its power from light. All Ironman models are completely water resistant - they are designed to be worn throughout the training process to help you monitor every step (or breast stroke) of the journey to competition readiness. All of the Ironman watches are functionally advanced sports watches that have all of the features you would expect including stopwatch and timer functions. The Ironman Trail Runner offers GPS for off road training.

The newest innovation in Timex Ironman watches is the iControl series which is designed to wirelessly link to your iPod or iPhone while in airplane mode. With a Play/Pause button right on the watch face you can tuck your iPod securely away and easily control your music while you run, bike or swim. It is innovations like this that have kept Timex at the forefront of watch making in the USA for over 150 years. To make one of their famous watches, Timex begins with a commitment to durability, builds on a dedication to functionality and ends with a dash of style.

Training for the Ironman competitions is grueling and difficult. Only a small fraction of athletes in the world today can compete equally well in the water, on a bike and in the marathon. For those dedicated athletes Timex is proud to produce a line of watches specifically designed to serve as training aids. If you are in training for Triathlon or are considering taking up the sport check out the full range of Timex Ironman watches for men and women. To succeed in Triathlon you need every possible edge - training to a specific plan is easier with a Timex Ironman watch giving you audible alerts and keeping you on course.

Marc Obadia is the Director of Mens & Ladies Watch Store http://www.mensandladieswatches.co.uk, an online supplier of Mens Watches,and Ladies Watches at up to 40% off High Street Prices. We offer an extensive selection of top brands such as Casio, DKNY, Diesel, Fossil, Police and Timex watches.

Dog Training Tips For Your Golden Retriever

Although there are many dog training tips for golden retrievers, teething is the most common. Golden puppies love to chew and will chew anything they can get. Although chew toys are preferred, there is a way that you can help your golden fulfill his natural instinct to chew, and help him to ease the pain of teething as well. To start, simply fill an old sock you have with several ice cubes. Next, put a knot in the sock and place the sock with the cubes in the freezer. When your puppy starts to chew on things, simply give him the sock. You can keep several socks with ice in it in your freezer if you want, so your puppy will always have a chew toy. Although this is great to use, you should never leave your dog alone with the sock. He could end up chewing the sock and swallowing pieces of it, which could lead to very serious health problems.

Leash training is also a must for your golden. During leash training, a lot of people prefer to attach the leash to the golden then drag him in the direction they want him to go. This isn't the best way to train, as it often sends the wrong signal to the puppy. Instead, you should first get your golden puppy used to the collar and the leash. You can do this by putting his collar and leash on inside the house or outside in a fenced in area, so that he can walk around. He will then be able to move about freely with the leash on, dragging it alongside him. Once you have given him some time, pick the leash up, then start calling him to you. Once he comes over to you, start praising him for it, so he knows that he is on the right track. Always be patient when leash training, as it will take some time for him to get used to it. If you continue to praise him when he is doing it right and continue giving him time to get used to the dog training leash, you shouldn't have any problems.

Digging is something that golden retrievers love, as it is essential to their nature. Digging can be some what frustrating if you don't give your dog an area to himself, he will dig holes in your yard. If you keep your golden indoors, he may try to dig in the floor, on the couch, or on the bed. Digging is part of their nature, and you should never punish him for digging. The above tips can help a great deal when dog training your golden retriever puppy. Golden's are great dogs, although you'll need to have a bit of patience with them. Even though they are very smart dogs, it may take them time to learn. Once they start learning however, they will become an integral part of your family that you couldn't begin to live without. Good Luck!

Benny Chikayasu

http://retrievertrainingtips.blogspot.com

How to Braid an Agility Training Tab With Paracord

Agility Tabs are a "mini" leash that is used for training a dog for running an agility course. They are primarily used during the early stages of off lead work, when the handler needs a little handle to quickly grab their dog to get it back on course.

This tutorial will show you how to make an agility training tab using a four strand braid method and then finishing the tab with a terminal turk's head knot.

Tools And Supplies

Tools that you will need are; scissors, a C-clamp, hemostat clamps, a wood burning tool, paracord and a small leash snap. If you don't have a wood burning tool, a lighter to melt the cord ends will suffice.

Paracord will shrink when it gets wet, so it is VERY IMPORTANT that you preshrink the cord before you start to braid. If you don't, the first time that you walk your dog in the rain, your leash will get all misshapen and lumpy.To preshrink the cord, soak it in hot water for about five minutes and then hang it to dry. You can toss it in a pillow case, knot it closed and dry it in the dryer as well, it's your choice.

I am making an eight inch agility tab To determine how much paracord that you will need, break down the length of your project into inches and multiply by four. 8" X 4 = 32" so I will need 2 separate paracord strands that are EACH 32" long

STEP 1 - Arranging The Cords

Thread the cords through the eye of the snap, laying them side by side. Clamp the snap down to a steady surface like a table. This will prevent the cords of twisting during braiding, which can be frustrating for the novice braider.

STEP 2 - Braiding Move One

A and B are the first strip, while C and D are the second strip. Now take A and cross over B. D lies to the left of B while C lies to the right of C. Keep a constant, light tension on the strands.

STEP 3 - Braiding Move Two

Now cross D behind B and cross over A.

STEP 4 - Braiding Move Three

Now take C and cross behind B and over D. To continue making your leash, cross B behind D and over C. Remember that the new strand that you will use to keep making the braid will always be the topmost strand.

STEP 5 - Arranging The Cords To Start The Turk's Head Knot

While you are making your knot, plug in the wood burning tool since it takes a little while to heat up.

Grasp the end of the braid with the loose ends poking through the top of your fist and arrange the cords in an X pattern. Cord 1 goes over Cord 2. Cord 2 goes over cord 3. Cord 3 goes over cord 4 and cord 4 goes over cord 1.

STEP 6 - The Turk's Head Knot Part Two

Gently side the knot off of your thumb and tighten it up. Take the hemostat clamp, poke it through the center of the knot. Grasp cord one, sliding it under cord two. Continue this process until all the cords have been pulled through the center of the knot. Pull all the cords tightly so that the knot appears even.

STEP 7 - Finishing The Turk's Head Knot

All the cords are now poking through the top of the turk's head knot. Trim the loose cords very close to the top of the knot. Gently melt the cord ends with the wood burning tool in a sweeping motion until they are flush with the top of the knot.

Your agility leash is now finished and ready to be used for your next training class!

Karen Friesecke is the author of Bloggie Stylish a new blog dedicated to recipes and free projects for dogs. Please visit Agility Training Tab Tutorial to see this tutorial, complete with pictures.

Tips On Dog Training For Your New Companion

Getting a new puppy is a huge commitment and an exciting chapter in most people's lives. Training your new puppy in the basics of doggy etiquette takes a lot of dedication. Some tips on dog training are discussed below. Each breed is a bit different, but the following tips are useful for just about any breed of dog.

Tip Number One - Potty training is easier when using a crate:

Kenneling your new pup might seem a bit cruel, especially when he starts whining and crying. It can be heart breaking even. However, using a crate to teach your puppy about potty training will ultimately make this task easier for the both of you.

A crate gives the pup a safe place to hang out. Put a soft bed or blankets in the crate, along with a bunch of puppy-proof toys. Dogs will usually sleep in their bed and not make a mess in it too. Take the pup out every hour or so, until you figure out if he can go longer in between bathroom breaks. Place him in the grass as soon as he gets out of the kennel. Eventually he will begin to associate the outdoors with going to the bathroom.

Tip Number Two - Curb biting as soon as it starts:

No one wants to be a chew toy and puppy teeth don't exactly tickle. When your puppy beings to use your hand or one of your new shoes as a chew toy, firmly say, 'No' and remove the item. Immediately give him one of his own toys. If you think he might be teething, then you can put some ice cubes in an old sock and tie a knot in it. This will give him something cool to gnaw on and get some relief for his sore gums.

Tip Number Three - Teach basic commands before the silly ones:

Sure, it's cute for a puppy to learn to do little dances for a treat, but should this be the first command he learns? For his own safety - and your sanity - it's best to teach him the basics first; sit, stay, and down. Sit is often one of the easiest, especially if you entice your pup with treats during the training. Many puppies will begin to associate sitting down with getting a treat at a very early age.

Each of these tips on dog training are very basic, but should help you get started with turning your pup into a well-behaved member of the family.

Do you need some tips on dog training? If so then visit http://www.topdogtrainingcourses.com now where you can get some great advice and a free dog training report and newsletter to help you on your way.

Leash Training and Obedience Training For Your New Dog

Leash training is the most difficult part of the entire of obedience training package. Generally leashes make the dogs feel restricted and tied up. This can cause your dog to show weird behavior. It is much more difficult that arranging for nice dog beds or making your dog stay in a crate. You will have to extra careful while giving your dog this kind of training. There are some important aspects of dog leash training. Follow the right steps to take effective results from dog leash training.

The primary part of training your dog not to pull you at the conclusion of the leash is to encourage in them a sagacity of peaceful and calm mind prior to the leash ever goes on. Dogs are risky animals and the spectacle of the leash is an indication for them that they are going out on a splendid exploration or some exciting activity. They turn out to be very energized by the panorama and it can be tricky to even get the leash stuck to their collar let alone manage the dog. So we require the aid of an additional authority. The thought is to make your darling peaceful and quiet adequately that you do not have to struggle to fix the leash and the saunter should not in the slightest of manner begin until the pet has reassured. If you consent to the pet to lay down the frame of mind for your walk as excitement, then they will keep on the waling at the equivalent rate of knots.

Now that you have accomplished placing the leash on the collar, half of your work is already done. This is the trickiest part of your dog training and you are just through with it. You might have observed your pet wobbly in anticipation as you were fixing the leash. Your dog is all set for a nice walk and just an not pass the time keep hold of the end of the leash strongly and place in the ground both feet resolutely for the reason that as soon as you let go the collar, two things are going to come to pass. Initially, your pet is going to run off like crazy all over the place in a transformed emotion of thrill and, secondly, you are going to experience as if your arm is going to be jerked from its opening.

To bring to a halt an opportunity occurrence like this, try a straightforward method. Just relax and stand quietly. Your pet will rapidly arrive at the last part of the leash and stand still at the end of it. Hold your position in anticipation of the time when it comprehends that you are not going somewhere at all. When the animal cools down and comes back to you admire her liberally. Then amble around the room with her a bit. If your dog repeats the pull behavior, another time rest for some time. Your dog will rapidly become skilled at it. Stay patient. Again go into raptures over your dog for being an excellent dog.

This author lives in Clinton, NJ with beautiful 16 month old daughter and her husband of many years and love contributing to dog beds and baby sites where her expertise and interest are combined. She loves writing about topics such as dog supplies, dog training, baby and kids development, pregnancy health and more. Her favorite pet boutique which offers unique dog feeders and orthopedic dog beds keeps her busy shopping for her family Pit Bull and adorable cat.

Dog Training - Exercise

Though breeds do differ from one another, and dogs within a breed differ from one another, all dogs have one thing in common: They need exercise.

Most dogs need an average of one hour a day devoted to exercise. (Some active breeds, like hunters or herders, may require up to two or more hours.) There is no correlation between the size of the dog and the amount of exercise it needs. Some small dogs have big energy reservoirs. Some giant dogs prefer to lay in the sun for hours on end. Each dog needs to be analyzed separately and each dog needs to exercise for whatever amount of time is appropriate. This is time separate from time spent training. This is walking, chasing and playing, preferably with you.

If you don't have time try to find it. If that's not possible consider hiring a dog walker or even a dog runner. This can be an expensive service but if you really don't have the time, it is probably worth the cost. A dog walker can charge from $20 to $30 per walk. If you don't know of a dog walking service in your area, ask your veterinarian for a recommendation or check with your local Humane Society. Professional dog walkers will often leave their information with these facilities just in case someone like you needs them! No matter whom you hire, you'll want to ask for references to make sure he or she is trustworthy. You are, after all, entrusting your dog to their care. And if you want them to come to your house to get the dog while you are not there, you'll need to set up a system that allows them to get into your house. In the end, you might decide it is easier to just walk the dog yourself, which would probably be your dog's first choice.

Swimming is another great idea, if you have a dog comfortable with the water and a safe place to swim. (Not all of us are this lucky.)

It is crucial that your dog expends some of its energy before you ask it to concentrate on its training. If you come home from a long day at work and let it out of its crate, it will be too busy freaking out to focus on what you are asking it to do in terms of training and learning.

Don't fall into the trap of letting your dog into the backyard and assuming that it's going to get its necessary exercise. Your dog needs to be stimulated. A bored dog is often a dog about to engage in mischief. You don't want a dog in mischievous mode when you're trying to teach it something. A dog needs to be physically and mentally stimulated for some quality minutes before you begin your training exercises.

A healthy dog is a happy dog. Our dogs are also happier when we are healthier. Exercise first, then train. You'll both be better for it.

From the website with all the information you need on dog training TrainDogsHome.com

Training Your Golden Retriever Pup - Simple Practical Tips To Train Your New Dog

Teeth Training:
Teeth is probably the most common training tip for Golden Retrievers. These puppies love chewing and will gnaw at anything they can get their mouth on. Though there are chew toys available in the market just for this, there is an easier way for you to help your golden retriever satisfy its instinct to chew and also help reduce the pain of new teeth growing.

The easiest way to begin is to fill a sock of yours with many ice cubes. After this, knot the opening of the sock and put it in the freezer. When your golden puppy starts looking for things to chew, give him this ice cube filled sock. Keep many such ice cube filled socks handy in the freezer. This will ensure a constant supply of chew toys for your dog. Always be by the side of your dog when it has the sock. Else, it might consume pieces of the sock leading to serious health concerns.

Leash Training:
Often people leash their dog during training and drag it along the directions they want it to go. This is most certainly not the right way to train the dog. It gives a bad message to the puppy and makes it dislike being in the leash. A better approach is to first help your puppy get used to the leash and the collar. Put it on the dog and allow it to move freely in a fenced area dragging the leash along. This makes the pup understand that leash does not affect it in any way.

Once the dog gets used to having the collar and the leash along with it, pick up the leash and then call the dog over to you. When he does come to you, praise the pup and pat him or offer him a treat. This shows the pup that it is doing the right thing. Patience must be always at the top of your emotions since this training can take a long time. Continue praising him when he does the right things and give him more time to get used to the leash.

Digging around

Digging is another natural instincts of the Golden Retriever and it loves to dig too. This can drive you nuts if you don't give this pup an area he can use for himself. He might dig too many holes in your backyard for your liking. Also keeping him indoors can make him claw at the couch or bed or the floor. You shouldn't punish a golden retriever for digging since it is their nature.

For giving yourself peace of mind and to help your puppy satisfy its urge to dig, give him some place where he can dig. A kiddie pool or a sandbox is more than enough. Bury a treat or two under the mud. This will give your retriever clues as to dig in that spot for treats and toys and will use the same spot every time he feels the urge. When the pup gets older, by means of constant training, you can make him get his habits and natural instincts under control

You can train your Golden Retriever really well by following the above tips. They are really fascinating dogs, if only you show the some patience. They have a slower learning curve in spite of their smartness. But once they have learnt the basics, they will become an inseparable part of your family.

Abhishek is an avid dog lover and he has got some great Dog Health Secrets up his sleeves! Download his FREE 80 Page Ebook, "How To Take Care Of Your Dog's Health" from his website http://www.Dog-Tale.com/192/index.htm. Only limited Free Copies available.

Training a Gun dog Isn't Hard - Lesson 6, Basic Retrieving and Directing Your Dog

Basic Retrieving: What Are We Trying To Achieve?

The obvious aim of retrieving is to get the shot game to hand; however the love of retrieving is the tool that we use to teach a dog to follow signals to an unseen quarry that may have been wounded but able to fly on, maybe across water, before landing. Once down the bird may have died, for example if it was lung shot; just as likely is that the bird was winged and able to run on. In the first case, it will be sufficient to handle the dog to roughly where the bird died. In the worst case, it will be necessary to handle the dog to the blood trail, then let him figure out the best thing to do.

The First Lessons

The first task is to get the puppy to scamper after a retrieve. A suitable object to retrieve is small, soft and quiet. The worst object is too large to be held easily in the puppy's mouth, is hard and squeaks when it is chewed. So what we are looking for is something like a clean hanky tied in a knot, or a new sock. For crying out loud, don't get them to retrieve a used sock unless you are going to be forever happy with a dog that likes chewing washing. If you want to spend the money, a puppy dummy can be purchased, but for my mind these are a little too hard, and may encourage chewing. Others may disagree.

Remember what has been said in earlier lessons, do not overdo this. Success once a day which allows you to praise the puppy up is enough.

The ideal lesson is to stand between the puppy and somewhere it will run with a toy; this is normally his bed. Have the puppy with you, paying you attention which you are returning. Show the dummy to the puppy, and just throw it a yard or so along the ground. The pup will naturally run after it, and then try to get back past you. Stop her and make a fuss of her, then gently take the dummy. Do not pull the dummy; the last thing you want is to enter a tug of war. Plenty of praise!

On the subject of not entering into tugs of war; NEVER, EVER, EVER!!! allow your kids, friends, wife, husband, parents, neighbours or anyone else enter into a game of tug of war over anything with your pup. You may as well take a hammer to every bird, rabbit or other game that your dog will retrieve in future. So I suggest that you avoid the rubber rings that you can buy as puppy toys, along with the squeaky toys.

Right, having just had a first retrieve and praised the puppy, she will want to play more. Keep this up for a few days, and once she is happy coming to you with the dummy, it is time to change the routine slightly. Extend the distance, and encourage her to come to you with the attraction of her bed behind you.

The Next Step

We now use the pup's interest in the retrieving game to start handling her to seen retrieves.

Get the puppy to sit in front of you and facing you at about a yard. Show the dummy and throw it behind you, at the same time giving her the SIT! command. Her initial reaction is to chase the dummy, so it is important to emphasise the sit command with the verbal and raised hand commands. If the dog breaks the sit, catch her and put her back. Repeat the throw, again striving for the puppy to stay. Once she has sat for a few seconds (remember as with any timing, keep varying the actual time spent as discussed in previous lessons), encourage her to retrieve with the command 'Dead!'. If she is confused she may not want to go, so encourage her.

Spend time on this over a few days, gradually extending the distance, and fetching two out of three of the retrieves yourself. This is most important for later steadiness. Not every falling bird should be picked by the dog, and the less she does the more she will want to fetch - it becomes a gift rather than a chore or a right!

The last thing I am going to discuss in this lesson, is to sit the dog in front of you as before, and throw the retrieve over her head. Now if your Sit! hand signal is done with the right hand, use the left hand to give the 'Out!' signal which is a raised arm brought sharply down and forward accompanied by the command Out!.

If she does not go, immediately give her the 'Dead!' command.

Keep it fun for you and the dog. Speak more later!

Ken Devonald has two German Short haired Pointers and has previously trained spaniels. He lives and works in the Scottish Borders, where he has plenty of opportunities to train his dogs to work rabbits. He is currently developing a Gun dog Training Site, which you can visit here!

A Few Guidance Tips on Training Golden Retrievers

There are many training tips available for the Golden Retriever breed, however, one of the most common and easier to implement is through chewing. These dogs love to get their teeth on anything they can get their paws on. Retail stores carry a number of toys your dog can chew on as if playing dog games, they are safe and made for that purpose. The chewing activity will relieve them of some of the pain produced during teething, and why not, save some of your furniture as well.

You need not buy a toy for chewing, an old shoe will do. If you want to improve on the experience you can try the sock and ice method. To do this, fill up a sock half way with ice cubes, then tie a knot round the open end of the sock. When you notice that your dog develops a craving for chewing on something, pull out one of the socks you have prepared in the freezer and toss it to him. In order to be ready for these instances you are welcome to keep a few socks in the freezer already prepared with ice cubes in them. Although this system is very convenient and a lot of fun for the dog, you should never leave him alone at this since he could end up eating the sock, which could lead to undesirable health problems.

Leashes
As most people have come to know it, leash training the dog simply involves attaching the dog to one end of the leash, then pulling towards the direction you want the dog to go. However, this is not considered to be among the best training practices you can perform. The first step in leash training is allowing the puppy to grow accustomed to the leash attached to his neck. Do some practicing inside the house, allowing him to walk around with the leash on, while you watch him closely from a distance.

After running around the house a little with the leash on, pick it up and call him to you. Once he approaches, give him lots of praise, let him know he is in the right track. Remember to apply patience to this process, it will take some time for the dog to get used to the leash. Follow the rules of play, and provide lots of praise when he does what he's supposed to do, you should be on your way in no time..

Digging Around
Digging stuff out of the dirt is in every retriever's nature. It is one of the most enjoyable activities for your dog, but if not monitored your yard could end up like a war zone.

To attend to this need you could buy him a sand box at the store, which you could fill with either dirt or sand. Follow up on the experience by burying a toy or a snack, he will dig it up and love you for it.

These tips are meant to get you on your way during the first couple of weeks with your new Golden Retriever puppy. Further along the road you will probably want to engage in more complex training yielding much more tangible results.

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