One thing that always amazes me is how a dog owner will not admit that they have an aggressive dog.  They come up with all types of excuses and reasons why the dog is showing aggression and it is never the dogs fault.

If you have read any of my articles on dog aggression you know that I have mentioned that aggression has become an epidemic. Yes, you would be really surprised what a large percentage of dogs have aggression towards other dogs, people and sometimes even members of their human families.

I always explain to an aggressive dog owner that to be successful with rehabilitating an aggressive dog they first have to admit that there is a problem.  Without that the training and behavior modification are usually merely a waste of the dog and the owner’s time and the dog does not get better.

Once I have that commitment from the owner the process of rehabilitating the dog can begin.  The next commitment I need from an owner is that they will be willing to work with the dog at least once a day for no more than a 15 minute training session.

Of course repetition is the number one principle of dog training so if the owner has the time 2 or 3 sessions a day is even better.  I do tell them however that if they can only train once a day they will be amazed at what they will be able to accomplish with their dog and how quickly the dog’s attitude toward the owner, the ALPHA, will change.

Besides the obedience exercises that the dog needs rehabilitation will also include some behavior modification.  Each dog needs something different and we actually design a behavior modification program that is specific for each individual dog.

Rehabilitating a dog that is showing aggression does involve work and commitment from the owner.  On some occasions the dog owner is not willing to commit and instead chooses to find a new home for the dog and in extreme cases even have the dog euthanized.

Rehabilitating or rehoming is always a decision that the owner and family must make and there is not one right answer instead it has to do with the commitment that the owner is able and willing to offer.

Remember, that a very large percentage of aggressive dogs are that way because they did not receive proper socialization as puppies.  When you get the next puppy make sure that you find a well-qualified trainer that can teach you how to properly socialize your puppy.

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Do you need help with an aggressive dog?  We can help.  If you are in ,  Chattanooga, TN,  Clarksville, TN, Knoxville, TN, Huntsville, ALand Indianapolis, IN visit our website and give us a call.

Please remember we can help you with an aggressive dog no matter where you are located.  In fact we have clients all over the U.S. simply give us a call so we can tell you how.

Until next time,

P.S. Do you need some advice from a Canine Behavior Specialist?  If so CLICK HERE now!

About the Author: Wayne Booth is owner of   which is headquartered in Nashville, TN but serves clients all over the U.S..  If you have a dog with aggression, behavior problems or simply needs training feel free to contact him.

Wayne has also been teaching people how to become Professional Dog Trainers since 1990 and he is the Training Director of Canine Behavior Specialists Network.  If you would like to become a Professional Dog Trainer he can get you started.

If you have a child or children you have heard this question before unless they are too young, then you will hear it soon. Yep, all kids want a dog but the question always is when is the right time to get your children a dog. Let’s talk about that here today.

I have literally had dog owners tell me they got the puppy for their child and when I ask how old your child is, they say 1 or sometimes I hear 2. That is crazy a 1 or 2 year old child does not need a dog.

Usually they end up confessing that they wanted a dog and just used the kids as an excuse to get one. I tell them that is okay if you want a dog you certainly can have one.

However what this article is about is when an older child begs mom and dad for a pup. Is it time? Is the child mature enough to help and take some responsibility? Those are questions that only you the parent can decide.

Here are some things to consider when getting a dog. You need to discuss them with your children and see where they will be willing to help.

First of all the dog needs to be feed at least once a day and depending the age maybe even up to 3 times a day until it gets older. Feeding needs to be consistent and ideally at the same time each day.

Second, dogs need exercise and they need to go for walks. Who will be responsible for the walks? They are important and cannot be neglected.

Third, when dogs eat, they poop and somebody needs to be in charge of cleaning up their mess in the back yard.

Fourth, training for every dog is a must but usually should be done by an adult rather than the child.

With just these four things in mind will your child take responsibility and care for the dog. Don’t get me wrong an only child may need help from mom and dad but if you have multiple children then they should be able to handle most of the dogs care.

So now that you have some idea of what the kids need to do, what happens if they don’t?  You and the children need to make that decision before you get the pup. Not caring for the dog and living up to their commitment should have consequences and you are the one that needs to come up with and enforce those rules.

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Do you need help with a new puppy?  We can help. If you are in ,  Chattanooga, TN,  Clarksville, TN, Knoxville, TN, Huntsville, AL and Indianapolis, IN visit our website and give us a call.

If you have an aggressive dog please visit www.DogAggressionExperts.com for help…

Please remember we can help you with dog training or problem solving no matter where you are located.  In fact we have clients all over the U.S. simply visit    for more information and the give us a call.

Until next time,

P.S. Do you need some advice from a Canine Behavior Specialist?  If so CLICK HERE now!

About Wayne: Wayne Booth is owner of   which is headquartered in Nashville, TN but serves clients all over the U.S..  If you have a dog with aggression, behavior problems or simply needs training feel free to contact him.

Wayne has also been teaching people how to become Professional Dog Trainers since 1990 and he is the Training Director of Canine Behavior Specialists Network.  If you would like to become a Professional Dog Trainer he can get you started.

Here is another article from guest blogger Hannah Croscutt, enjoy!

I often get asked what basic commands I think every dog should know and why. It’s not that some commands are necessarily better than others, but if I had to pick six commands that I find to be particularly useful, I would recommend these:

1. “Sit”- Sit can be an amazingly useful tool. If you’re walking/running down the side walk and need to stop for a car coming through an intersection, teaching your dog to sit when you stop your feet is crucial. Another handy use of sit is to ask your dog to sit when they are being groomed or petted, to help keep your dog within reach.
2. “Stay”- Stay can be an effective command when you need your dog to wait while you get your purse/things to together before you go to the vet or pet store together. It’s so nice to be able to “park” your dog while you get what you need to done.
3. “Come”- This is one of the most practical, useful commands you can teach your dog. It helps to be able to use this command if your dog gets loose and you weren’t able to get your hands on them in time. It saves having to potentially chase your dog around the block before you catch them.
4. “Leave it”- Let’s say you’re clumsy (like me) and drop a piece of pizza. Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to say “leave it” and your dog not have it gobbled up by the time you reach down to get it? (Yes, I’m assuming you follow the “ten second rule” here).
5. “Heel” or learning to walk beside you, not in front of you- It’s also very frustrating to get dragged on walks, especially if you have a big dog, and if you teach your dog to walk properly, your walks will be more enjoyable. Thus, you’ll want to go on more walks with your dog. It’s a win-win!

These are just a few of the many commands you can teach your dog, and not only does teaching your dog these things make life a little easier, but it also strengthens your bond. Please let me know if you have any commands you favor and why in the comments below! Thanks for reading!

About the author: Hannah Croscutt is a dog lover from Atlanta, Ga. She enjoys learning all about dogs from her furry buddy, Piper. She blogs at http://thefurryteacher.wordpress.com.

Do you need help training your dog?  We can help. If you are in Nashville, TN,  Chattanooga, TN,  Clarksville, TN, Knoxville, TN, Huntsville, AL, or Indianapolis, IN  visit us at  and give us a call.

Please remember we can help you with dog training or problem solving no matter where you are located.  In fact we have clients all over the U.S. simply visit    for more information and then give us a call.

Until next time,

P.S. Do you need some advice from a Canine Behavior Specialist?  If so CLICK HERE now!