When it comes to dog training, agility is one of the main aspects that are greatly considered. Agility is a dog sport in which a handler and her dog run as a team through an obstacle course in a race for both time and accuracy. The goal in any dog agility competition is to execute each piece of equipment correctly without any disqualifications.

Basically, an agility course is rather like an obstacle course with standard elements that each dog must pass through in order to complete the run and receive a qualifying score. If a single element is missed, the team is disqualified. This course consists of jumps, hoops and obstacles that you can set up for yourself. You can visit your local pet shop for this equipment. The basic elements of dog agility equipment are:

The weave poles are a series of thin poles attached to a straight plank base.The a frame is a ramp with a strong incline and equal decline. A-frame is painted a bright color, usually yellow, forming the contact zone, onto which the dog must place at least one paw while ascending and descending.The dog walk is another type of ramp. The two end planks form ramps leading up to and down from the center plank.The teeter is a long plank on a fulcrum that each dog must mount at one end and walk across to the other end.The tunnel is a long tube each dog must run through. The tunnel is constructed of flexible vinyl and wire, such that it can be configured in a straight line, or in a variety of curves.The chute is similar to the tube at the entry point, but the rest of the chute is simply nylon without the hoops to support it, so dog are basically running blind through this element.Jumps are the same as you would find at an obedience trial, and the pole height is set according to the size of the dog.The tire is suspended on a frame and each dog must jump through it on its way around the course.There are several national and international agility organizations with each having its own regulations and standards for dog agility equipment.

Please also check out our other guide on dog agility courses tips and

How would you know if the dog is obedient?  Just start training with the basic commands and see if it responds each time you give the command.  You can consider dog obedient, instead of just trained in obedience, when it responds reliably each and every time the command is given.  Not every dog that goes through a Dog Obedience Training is obedient though.  If it doesn’t responds to the trainer’s command right away, then your dog is not obedient yet.  Keep training, and it will.  Repetition and love is a key to an obedient dog.

Usually there are two or more people involved in Dog Obedience Training – the handler and the trainer.  Sometimes it could be one person who combines two roles together.  Training a dog in obedience is a long and ongoing process which depends on the dog, the training method, and the skills and knowledge of both – and the handler the trainer.

The important key to successful obedience training is trust and good relationship between the handler and dog.

Basic dog obedience is usually a short course – between six and ten weeks.  During this course the handler learns proper way to communicate with the dog and train it in a few very simple commands.  Most methods are designed for dog to be trained one command at a time.  A good way to start Dog Obedience Training is leash control (walking as it should be on a leash).  The majority of trainers require dogs to walk on a leash before learning other commands.

Once you learned control your dog on a leash, move on to the next step.  When handler is training the dog, there may or may not be a specific word attached to it.  There are certain commands that are accepted as standard and commonly used.  However, it doesn’t matter if they are used.  It is important though to be consistent in usage.

There are five basic commands in Dog Obedience Training:

Sit: the dog simply sits when command is given.
Down: the dog lies down with front feet and rear legs touching the ground.
Heel: the dog’s shoulder or head is close and parallel to the handler’s leg.
Come (recall command): literally means to “Call your dog”.
Stay: the dog must remain at the same location and in the given position under which the handler gave command.  The handler will release the dog in some time.

There is no exact number of the advanced commands – sky is the limit.  Some of them are:

Leave it: direct the dog to not touch an item.  This command is very useful.  It should be given before the dog has picked anything up.
Stop: the dog has to stop what it is doing. It doesn’t matter how far the dog is from its keeper. It has to lie down on command.
Speak: when taught this command, the dog will bark (once or more).
Roll Over: the dog will lie down (if it wasn’t already), roll over on its back, and stands back up.
Fetch: The handler throws an object (usually a ball or a stick) and the dog will retrieve it and brings back. This is the command when both, the handler and the dog could have a lot of fun.

Just remember, you and your dog have to learn to walk before you start running…Even though the goal for your dog could be high level specialty training, Dog Obedience Training is often a requirement for or a part of other training.  You and your dog have to learn to walk before you start running…

Dogs are very habitual. Their lives revolve around ritual and their internal body clock and routine. They anticipate your return from work at a certain time. They expect their meals at a certain time.

You can use this information in your dog training. This sort of habitual behavior is part of why dog’s are easy animals to train (compared to other animals.) Of course the goal of dog obedience training is for the dog to respond with a particular reaction to a particular command.

Because of the habitual nature of dogs it’s important that you be extremely consistent in your training. Do not change things up on your dog! This will only confuse him. You should go through your routines with him the exact same way every time. When you tell your dog to sit you need to make sure that he does in fact sit before going on to the next command. This consistency will help your dog training efforts be more effective.

Perhaps the most important point with dog training is to keep a level head. You cannot allow yourself to let your temper flare or to yell at or hit your dog. Not only for the obvious moral reasons that you wouldn’t want to treat your dog in this way but also because this sort of behavior will make it much more difficult to train your dog.

Your dog doesn’t know how to learn from this sort of behavior. Your dog will only become afraid of you and it will make it harder to train him in the future.

Another important point of dog training is to make sure you reward your dog for a good behavior or for doing a trick in the correct way. This is important because it helps build your relationship with your dog and lets them know that you like their good behavior. Like with all aspects of dog training you need to be consistent with rewarding your dog.

Of course this does not mean to give your dog a food treat every time they do something right because that would not be good for them and would also become very expensive. You don’t need to give your dog the same treat every time just some sort of treat whether it’s letting them play with their favorite toy, giving them a friendly pat on the head with encouraging words in a friendly voice, or giving them a food treat.

For more indepth dog training information: http://www.DogTraining-AtoZ.com

Now, I have a rottweiler myself, and she’s the soppiest thing out. So I don’t personally subscribe to the view that particular breeds are necessarily aggressive. But nevertheless, large dogs certainly do need to be adequately trained, just because of their size. Larger dogs can be very intimidating to people.

And of course, training your dog well will also make he or she a much better family companion, especially in households where there are young children. Many studies have shown that proper dog training makes a big impact when it comes to cutting down the number of dog bits and other behavior problems encountered by dog owning households.

When considering training your own dog, or having someone else help you train it, there are certain basic commands that must be mastered in order for a dog to be considered truly trained. These basic commands include:

No – The word No is one word that all dogs must learn. Training your dog to respond to this important word can save you a ton of trouble.

Sit – Training your dog to sit on command is a vital part of any dog training program.

Down – Lying down on command is more than just a cute trick; it is a key component of any successful dog training program.

Stay – A well trained dog should remain where his or her owner commands, so Stay is an important command in dog training. (The Stay command is not used by all dog trainers. Some are of the view that the command to Sit means “Sit, and stay there until you’re given another command” – this makes a lot of sense. But many people do like to use the Stay command).

Heel – it is important that any dog learn to walk beside its owner on a loose lead, neither pulling ahead nor lagging behind

Dog training does much more than just create an obedient, willing companion. Training your dog properly actually strengthens the bond that already exists between dog and owner. Dogs are pack animals, and they look to their pack leader to tell them what to do. The key to successful dog training is to set yourself up as that pack leader.

Establishing yourself as pack leader is a very important concept for any potential dog trainer to understand. There is only one leader in every pack of dogs, and the owner must establish him or herself as the dominant animal. Failure to do so leads to all manner of behavior problems.

A properly trained dog will respond properly to all the owner’s commands, and will not display anxiety, displeasure or confusion. A good dog training program will focus on allowing the dog to learn just what is expected of it, and will use positive reinforcement to reward desired behaviors.

In addition to making the dog a good member of the community, obedience training is a great way to fulfill some of the dog’s own needs, including the need for exercise, the security that comes with knowing what is expected of it, a feeling of accomplishment and a good working relationship with its handler. Dog training gives the dog an important job to do, and an important goal to reach.

Giving the dog a job is more important than you may think. Dogs were originally bred by humans to do important work, such as herding sheep, guarding property and protecting people. Many dogs today have no important job to do, and this can often lead to boredom and neurotic behavior.

Basic obedience training, and ongoing training sessions, provide the dog with an important job to do. This is especially important for high energy breeds like German shepherds and border collies. Training sessions are a great way for these high energy dogs to use up their extra energy and simply to enjoy themselves.

Incorporating playtime into your dog training sessions is a great way to prevent both yourself and your dog from becoming bored. Playing with your dog helps to strengthen the all important bond between you – the pack leader – and your dog.

Consistency is one of the biggest key in dog training. For example, if you allowed your dog to sit on the couch yesterday and got yelled at this morning for sitting on the same spot, instinctively, your dog will be confused. This is when consistency pays a lot of the role in the dog’s training. It is suggested that you point out your rules clearly and stick to it religiously.

There are many ways to carry out dog training, from the basic behaviors, such as potty training to more complex tricks or command. If you don’t have the confidence to do it yourself, you may signup your dog in dog training courses suited for his level of ability.

Another big factor that must be included in dog training is socialization. This is tremendously essential for your fury friend. Dogs may possibly lead a miserable life if they are not given the opportunity to mingle and interact with other species. Dog training course will expose him to other dogs too. However, the best approach to have your dog socialized is to bring it and expose it to varied situations and settings that happen daily. If something upsets him, constantly be firmed with it. He must learn to get accustomed to everything, whether he likes it or not, for this is the only way to make things easier for you and your dog. Make it a goal to bring dog along wherever you will go, if possible, for him to be exposed to the real world and be taught to react with things in a more positive manner.

Among the things that dog owners should keep in mind, despite the rigors of training, is keep it fun at the same time. Remember that learning doesn’t have to seem like a chore for neither you nor your dog. Aggression during training causes more damage than re-enforce good behavior and learning. Instead, your dog will have a negative vibe on the training. Dog training should be based on mutual respect even though you’re dealing with an animal, but it must keep your roles between you and your dog clear.

If you do not know where to begin, you can always ask a fellow dog owners for dog training tips or just take dog training classes. As a rue of thumb, sensible dog owners don’t need complex dog training because dog training is usually a matter of common sense.

If you have a clicker, a small device carried by a dog trainer, and click it at the same time a dog is given a treat, the dog will associate getting a treat with the sound of the clicker.  As time goes on, the dog will begin to associate the clicker with positive behavior, even if no clicker is present.

What exactly does a clicker do?

Quite simply, a clicker is a tiny plastic contraption that is shaped like a box.  The trainer carries the clicker.  When pressed, the clicker produces a sound that resembles that of a sharp click.  Because the clicker is clicked when a dog displays good behavior, the dog will eventually interpret the click as meaning Good Dog. Clickers are very effective, because the sound they emit travels much quicker than words.  They are harder for the dog to ignore, because dogs can hear them quite easily, even above the sound of a crowd or other environments that the dog may normally respond to.

To help a dog associate the clicking with a reward, the trainer takes the clicker and clicks it, while giving the dog a treat.  Clicker training is a great learning tool for dogs, as it built upon positive reinforcement, and helps the dog model positive behavior.  As a result, the dog gets closer to perfectly modeling such behavior.

By breaking commands into small steps, it becomes easier to train your dog using a clicker.  As you guide the dog through the process of achieving the desired behavior, reward the dog with a tiny click until it exhibits the behavior you desire.  For instance, if you are trying to get the dog to jump through a hoop, it’s a good idea to keep it running in a heel position by your side.  Position a stick on the path the dog is taking.  Upon reaching the stick, tell the dog to jump.  When the dog walks over the stick, because it didn’t have to jump, click and give the dog a treat.  Praise the dog immediately afterward.  As time goes on, raise the stick or bar slightly higher off the ground.  Click each time the dog successfully jumps over the stick.  One benefit of clickers is that they allow you to reinforce positive behavior without giving the dog a treat.

When the dog begins to associate jump with the clicker, it is time to hold the hoop in an upright position.  You may want to say something like Hoop to teach the dog the dog to associate the word with jumping through the hoop.  Click the clicker and offer the dog a treat, and follow with praise.  Once he has completed this task successfully, you may want to raise the hoop a couple inches. Then, say Jump and Hoop. When the dog has jumped through the hoop, click for each time he completes this task.  Click each time the dog jumps through the hoop to positively reinforce this behavior.

Clicker training is helpful in making dogs respond to both basic and complicated directions.  But the dog must receive a treat until it realizes that the clicker is his reward.

In most cases, potty training is done with puppies, but there are plenty of dogs that haven’t learned when and where is fine to poop. Even with the popularity that housetraining had in recent years, a lot of people haven’t housetrained their dogs yet. Don’t underestimate the confidence that having a housetrained dog can bring you, especially when you need to leave him alone.

Some of the things you need to do effective potty training are written below. There are steps to be taken, just like with any other type of dog training:

1. The Timing

You can’t potty train a dog whenever you want to. He needs to be ready for it. Waiting for the time when he poops is probably the best moment to correct his behavior. When you see him do it, call him on it and invite him to go outside and finish.
Making sure that you’re using a low tone in your voice, give him the stop command. Next, begin to teach him about the “outside” command, guiding him slowly to a place where you’re OK with him doing his needs on a regular basis.

2. The Act

In most cases, people will see the effects of the accident only after it happened. When you see this, but didn’t catch him in the act, it’s better to ignore it and act on it next time that it happens. You shouldn’t rub the dog’s nose in it, because the lesson you teach him this way isn’t the proper one.

A better choice would be to bring the dog to that area and take the poop while he’s watching. That’s because he will not understand why you’re scolding him, even if only a few moments have passed since his action. Scolding the dog while he’s eating a bone will make him think that the bone is the reason you’re upset. He will not be able to make the connection with the pooping he’s done earlier.

3. The Accompaniment

In some cases, you will see your dog pooping inside the house, and you’ll tell him to go outside and do it. If he doesn’t react and continues to do it inside the house, it’s because he doesn’t know what you want from him, so it’s not his fault. If you want him to obey your commands, be patient and take him outside yourself, teaching him that he needs to do it there. You can use a leash to improve your control of the pet.

4. The Command

Talking with the dog is best done by using commands, which makes training much easier. What is important is how you teach him the meaning of the words. Since the dog can’t understand what you’re saying unless he’s trained, you need to teach him.

If you want the best results possible in dog potty training, your dog should be taught well what each command means. An example would be teaching him that the word “outside” means that he should leave the house, and “go potty” that he should poop.

Whether he does what you ask of him or not, punish or praise him, depending on what the results are. When you do this regularly, he will be conditioned to think that “outside” and “go potty” mean that he needs to do his needs.

Few dogs are very friendly and easier to train. In case, if your dog is not responding to your dog training program, then you need to follow the below given tips:

1. Spend at least 10 minutes every day to train your dog. Few dogs will not respond to your commands because the training program is a collection of fits and starts. If you spend a few minutes on Monday, nothing until Thursday, and again you start on Saturday, then it would be difficult for your dog to learn the commands.

2. Managing your dog’s behavior is a major part of dog training program. To make success we need to understand and apply basic management skills. Dogs misbehave a lot when you are not around them. Destructive behaviors, chewing, house training all these tend to happen when you are not at home. One of the best management tools is use “crate” which allows you to leave your dog lonely without the opportunity to get into trouble.

3. Don’t feed your dog frequently because “food” can be used as a strong motivator to your dog. It’s very difficult to use the food to reinforce behavior, when your dog is allowed to eat whenever it feels like.

4. Make your dog to look at you when you give any command to it. Most of the dogs fail to pay attention to owners command. So, always make sure that you have your dog’s attention before you give the command.

5. Dogs are always active animals. Most dogs were bred work long hours in the field. They have never had to herd sheep or any other type of livestock. We have to make sure that they get exercise in other ways such as retrieving games, tug games, hiking, and swimming.

6. Whatever you are trying to teach your dog has to have a value. If you are teaching your dog a behavior that you want to happen it over and over again, start to get back the behavior. You need to apply the type of value for the behavior.

7. Dogs are animals that always respond to a social structure. If you are really serious about dog training then you should establish the leadership quality. The better you are at being the leader the better your dog will respond to you. Establish the leadership quality and your dog will listen to you much better.

By these basic tips, you will start to get the results that you are looking for. It is also very important to remember that you can train your dog.