Periodically the distinction between management and restraint is lost. Using commands and hand gestures, with harnesses or food rewards, to stimulate wanted behavior is discipline. Using choke or shock collars, electronic boundaries and related devices is for control of unwanted behaviors.

Restraint/constraint isn’t needfully a negative factor. Dogs by nature want and look for social continuity in which someone is the alpha (leader); and in any human-dog pair the person has to take that position. To relinquish your role as the leader (alpha) will mean destruction of belongings, potentially unhealthy circumstances for other pets and people, human conflict and an unstable dog. The question is how best to acquire compliance from your dog.

Choke collars were conceived to help in getting control. Dogs are like humans in that each has their own character and traits. Some are, as a result, more assertive or slower to learn. For ones that don’t react positively to a conventional leather or nylon collar, a metal choke collar can supply additional deterrence to tugging and leaping.

The potential drawback is that choke collars, when used clumsily - all too simple to do - can give you results you didn’t want and also be dangerous. Choke collars fit only one way and when suitably fitted should make allowance for a one to three fingers space between the neck and the collar - three for larger dogs, one for smaller. Ordinarily a collar two inches longer than the measurment around the neck will suffice.

Used inappropriately, by-the-way, choke collars can chafe the skin - resulting in wounds that scratching will make worse. They can also inadvertently compress the trachea. A quick jerk and then loose lead isn’t harmful, however in accordance with its purpose it does create unpleasant pressure. But for dogs that persist in trying to resist the leash this device may not be enough to do the job. Generally, it is not approved of, especially for smaller dogs.

Prong collars are not as hazardous as they appear, but - from this handler’s prospective - have almost no positive properties. The only good aspect of this devices’ design is their limited diameter - they can only close down so far. Nonetheless, a critter with such an unyielding proclivity to pull that prongs are meaningless must have more than a quick fix consisting of choking and ‘pronging’. That kind of dog most likely needs to have tenacious and persistent behavior modification training.

Halter collars, which envelop the neck and the muzzle, but don’t stop panting or prohibit drinking and eating can give further constraint. The drawback is they don’t inhibit biting if that’s an issue. If biting is not a problem an everyday tether and collar, or maybe a chest halter might be preferable.

For assistance with those dogs that carry on in barking long after the purpose of barking is gone, consider an electronic No-barking collar. Barking is an ordinary and natural response to possible menacing events and is also used to signal distress and gain attention when one becomes isolated from the communal pack. But, for reasons we don’t completely understand, some animals bark continuously or at the drop of a hat.

Electronic collars that prohibit barking come in two forms: noise stimulus and shock stimulus. Noise collars generate a brief, unpleasant sound that distracts and tends to discourage continual barking.

Shock collars generate a quick but discomforting electronic shock that can be sustained during lengthy or recurring barking. Evenhanded and objective experimentation to discover their effectiveness divulge mixed conclusions - they work with some dogs and not others. On the other hand, as with prong collars, any dog in need of one would profit if, in addition, he had precise, professional training using behavior modification methods.

Now and then quick fixes are appealing and worthwhile… until they become replacements for more constructive (both to trainer and dog) long-term management. Making the effort to understand how to access your dog’s focused attention and cooperativeness without disproportionate reliance on control equipment is better. The usual effect is happier trainers and more well adjusted dogs.

Learn how to pick the correct Dog Bedding for your dog. Do not allow Puppy Potty Training become a time consuming or frustrating affair.

In the so called good old days folks had to take care of their own troubles, but it isn’t really like that anymore. Now people turn to “pros” to take care of their troubles for them. On the other hand there is a “DIY” movement where folks are taking their problems into their own hands, because it’s truly fun to learn how to solve problems by yourself.

If you’re a dog owner then you will be interested in “Do It Yourself Dog Coaching” through a dog coaching guide such as SitStayFetch. Personally I think this is a fantastic alternative to paying a very expensive professional dog trainer, particularly if you do not have plenty of money to spare.

If I had to choose just one thing about SitStayFetch Dog Training that makes it such a great choice then I would say it’s that you will be learning the way to deal with your dog problems yourself. This means that you will be gaining the talents you need to deal not only with any behavior issues your dog has currently, but also any future behavior issues that your dog has (or that any dog you’ll have in the future has.)

As they say goes “give a person a fish and he only eats for just a meal, teach a man how to fish and he eats for a lifetime.” By learning how to train your dog yourself through the advice in the SitStayFetch dog training guide you will be in effect become a dog trainer yourself. This is often a nice talent to own if you’re a real dog lover. No longer will you have to rely on anyone else to help you teach your dog to behave appropriately.

Of course not everybody has the time or proclivity to train their own dog. If you do prefer to hire a pro then you should. Certainly true pro dog trainers have a ton of expertise that you probably will not be able to get by simply reading a book.

It might be a particularly smart idea to hire a pro if you are dealing with a giant dog which has agression issues. Certainly if you don’t feel comfortable as a “Do It Yourself Dog Trainer” than you shouldn’t go that route.

For those who reside in Austin, Texas (or close to there) then I will positively recommend this dog training service. Along with dog coaching, they also do pet sitting and dog walking.

SitStayFetch is the recommended Online Dog Training eBook.

Picture this. You take your best friend for a walk on a nice Saturday afternoon, but it turns into a fiasco. He or she is excited to begin with, but when you venture out, the dog pulls so hard, it’s actually walking on two legs instead of four. Sound familiar? If so, you might want to give this a try.

My beagle used to be this way. She’s by no means perfect, yet, but she’s a lot better. We came across the Yuppie Puppy Anti-Pull harness from Orrco, Incorporated. And we saw an improvement the first time we used it. There are a number of benefits to this particular harness.

First, it’s the only one we’ve come across that’s endorsed by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. We’ve tried several, but this is the only one that worked right away. If it’s good enough for the ASPCA, it’s good enough for me. . .and my beagle.

Second, it’s quick and easy to put on and off. Some harnesses require a blueprint. Not this one.

Third, even if your dog pulls, the harness is guaranteed not to choke. If I had to pick one negative, it would be a small buckle that rests against the chest. If your dog is a puller, it may cause a little rash-like mark, but that’s about it. It certainly doesn’t hurt him. I wouldn’t let that keep me from giving it a try.

Fourth, there are padded sherpa sleeves that fit under the legs. Most other harnesses are unpadded and cause chafing, especially for a dog that pulls excessively. This one provides added comfort.

Fifth, you can choose from more than one color. If this is important to you, you can pick black or red. Not a big deal, but the option is available to you if that’s a significant factor.

We have a beagle that’s always eager for a walk. We’re still working with her on her walking techniques, but this harness has helped from day one. I recommend it highly.

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Does this sound familiar? You take your dog for a walk, and it pulls so hard on the leash it ends up walking on 2 legs instead of 4? It doesn’t have to be that way. Beagles in particular are prone to following scents, but it doesn’t mean training is an impossible task. Take it from a beagle owner, follow these 6 training tips and you’re well on your way to a happy, well-trained dog:

1. It’s never too early to start. Begin training your beagle as soon as possible. Starting with something as easy as a feeding schedule will help to get your dog used to a routine. If he or she is used to a routine from an early age, and if you reward his or her good behavior often, the chances are severely reduced that bad habits will develop.

2. Learning simple commands early is good. “Stay,” “sit,” and “come” might seem like simple commands, but the earlier they respond to these, the easier it is to train them later. Remember, a beagle is a pack dog. It wants to be the leader. The sooner you let him know you’re the pack leader, the more readily he will respond to your commands, rather than the other way around.

3. Keep the training sessions short. Even 5 to 10 minutes a couple times a day can work wonders. Anyone who’s ever owned a beagle knows they’re scent-motivated and can lose focus easily. Keep the sessions short but entertaining.

4. Never use physical punishment. Face it. We all get frustrated from time to time. But using any kind of force on your beagle (or any animal) will have the reverse effect. All it will do is instill fear in the dog, and there’s a big difference between fear and respect.

5. Use positive reinforcement. Dogs like treats, and they especially like to know they’re being rewarded for making you happy. And, being a hound, the beagle is motivated by food. The key here, though, is to not let your dog see the reward before you give a command. The dog will see it as a form of bribery and will obey only when the reward is in view.

6. Play to a beagle’s strengths. Use training methods that are related to his natural behaviors. With an amazing sense of smell, you could incorporate the uncovering of buried objects into your training. Since beagles are hunters, running and retrieving can be worked into the sessions as well. Plus, it’ll be more entertaining for the dog.

Can beagles be difficult? Of course they can, just as other breeds can be. But if you stick with these basic guidelines, you’ll find that it can be an enjoyable experience for both of you, and you’ll get a well-behaved beagle out of it at the same time.