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What are the best breeds for families with children?
The best puppy for your home is one that has been properly cared for by the breeder and the litter mother for at least 49 days. If you get a chance to see the mother, do so because she will pass on at least half of her temperament. And with proper socialization and training, your breed of choice will fit much easier into your home environment.
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When should I start training my dog?
Start training the moment you think of becoming an owner. Puppy-proof or dog-proof your home. Prepare your environment and protect your precious home treasures. You are now bringing a living creature into your life that believes remote controls may taste awful but are great for crunching on. Also, your new pet believes good smells in the house make ideal places to pee on
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How
do I get my dog to come to me?
The best way to train your dog is to play with your dog. Introduce sounds that intrigue the dog's sense of hearing. Use a whistle to play hide and seek. When this game is played successfully, it can make the difference between you always having to watch your dog, or your dog focused on you. Live, love, and laugh with your dog, and you will never have to worry about how to get your dog back.
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How do I get my dog to pay attention to me when we go outside?
As with humans, canines are highly motivated by things they enjoy and associate with. Be sure to take plenty of motivators. Toys, food or leash are some examples. Go out and play on your block with your dog. He will soon learn it's more fun to be with you than other dogs. Keep in mind that your dog will like other dogs but he will like you better.
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How do I quickly and thoroughly house train my dog?
The topic of house breaking would take many pages to discuss thoughtfully. I have taken some pointers from my book here.
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How do I keep my dog from jumping up on strangers?
Initially, greet company at the door with the dog on a leash. Practice 5 minutes a day, teaching your dog to go to the door and sit. Reward him with play, then repeat the pattern. Place a mat near to the door and off to one side so you can easily open the door without having to move your dog. This exercise also will help to cut down on separation anxiety.
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What is the best type of leash for my dog?
Five-foot leather leads are the easiest to handle. The best secret for leash control is learning what a leash can actually do for you. You need to understand how a leash moves and controls the dog. With this knowledge you will make great strides navigating streets with your urban, suburban or country dog.
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What's the best type of collar for my dog?
The best type of collar should allow you to control the head; not the neck. In my experience, round leather collars have are less harsh on longhaired dogs. Keep in mind that you should be able to put two fingers between the collar and your dog's neck. This will help prevent your dog from slipping out
of the collar and keep him safe.
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What's the best way to handle people who are afraid of my dog?
People are always fearful of objects moving forward and out of control. By demonstrating the teamwork between you and your dog as you navigate the street, you will give the fearful passerby more confidence. You can't erase the fear of a stranger but you can decrease their level of anxiety by demonstrating that you have an intelligent, spiritual and controlled connection with your dog.
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How do I keep my dog from eating things he finds on the ground?
First, minimize as many distractions as possible by teaching him to pickup, fetch, give or retrieve things to you in your house. Reward this behavior with a game of food fetch. This will teach your dog to bring you everything no matter what it is...discarded food, unwanted objects or dead rodents (possibly poisoned).
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How do you handle an overly excitable dog?
First you fix the temperament. If you don't fix or change the temperament it will come back to haunt you. It doesn't matter how much obedience you put on a dog if you haven't adjusted your training to their temperament. It doesn't matter whether they are hyper, shy, a stinker or a bully. You can always bring it back towards the middle by working with your dog longer, creating a better attention span. Teaching a 10-minute attention span to a three and a half-month-old puppy will be lots of fun and lots of laughs!
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How do I keep my spouse from spoiling my dog?
For the answer to this question, email the spoiler to tell your story.
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