Dog Training

There are many misconceptions about the people who train you to train your dog. Resources for dog obedience generally fall into three categories:

Obedience Instructor - teaches you how to train your dog. An obedience instructor leads a class of pet owners who work along with their pets.

Dog Trainer - teaches dogs to obey commands, and then teaches you those same commands so your dog will obey you.

Dog Behavior Consultant - observes, interprets your dog's behavior and corrects it when appropriate, and explains the root of your dog's behavior.

Before enrolling in a dog obedience class it is best to research the following options:

• Look into private and group classes?
• Get references from your veterinarian, breeder, animal shelter staff, groomer, or any neighbor with a well-behaved dog.
• Ask to observe classes before making a final choice - afterward you may find the instructor to severe, playful or unqualified for your liking.

Training Your Own Dog

If you are unable to afford obedience classes, consult the Internet or a book on dog obedience to self-train your dog. To self-train your dog you will require one of the following training collars:

Buckle Collar - basically made of durable leather or nylon with a buckle closure.

Choke Collar - a chain-link collar that resembles a noose and gets tighter if the dog pulls.

Prong/Pinch Collar - a cruel-looking collar that pinches the dog's neck as correction.

Halter/Head Collar - fits around the dog's whole head and let's the trainer lead the dog by the head rather than put pressure on his neck.

Shock Collar - these harsh collars omit an electric shock to correct a dog's behavior. Shock collars can severely traumatize a dog.