I am a professional dog trainer. As such I have a very specific way that I view dogs and how I think about dog training. I refer to this as my ‘dog-sense’. When I encounter new clients I discover them with varying degrees of dog-sense. It is my responsibility as a trainer to inculcate as much dog-sense into my clients as possible.

Throughout my years of training I have found that the majority of dog owners lack dog-sense in one key and critical area. If dog owners everywhere were able to improve in this area it could very well put me out of a job.

The greatest thing about choosing a puppy is that you get to pick your new family member. Unfortunately you didn’t get the same luxury when you inherited that Uncle or Aunt who always manages to say the most inappropriate things at the best of times. A few hints on picking a puppy can make a big difference.

Picking a puppy is one of the most satisfying and enjoyable experiences you could have. Going from puppy to puppy seeing their big lovable eyes and their floppy paws is heart warming. However, if you haven’t researched the right breed for you, it is very easy to find yourself making an impulse buy at a pet store.

What to look for when buying a puppy: When it comes time to buy a puppy, remember the old saying, “you get what you pay for.” Get a quality bred dog with a good pedigree, look for past champions, hunt test qualifiers etc. Be sure to ask breeders if eyes and hips are certified and ask about any other guarantees that may come with the dog. Nothing is ever certain in life but you will eliminate many potential problems by getting a quality bred dog. Though you will pay more for a dog like this, it will pay you dividends down the road in trainability and desire to work (this is one of those life experiences I learned the hard way).

Your puppy has no concept of where and when he should go to the toilet and until he is about six months old he will have none or very limited control over when he goes, nevermind where. A puppy’s gotta do what a puppy’s got to do. Let’s face it a new home and family, possibly an older pet are just to exciting and interesting to him learn about, so all his concentration is spoken for already! It’s up to you to watch his behaviour and set times during his day to focus what little attention he has on the more basic aspects of fitting into family life. With consistency, patience, lots of praise plus a mop and some Stain and Odour Remover eventually your little puppy will grow into a young dog who has learnt some bladder control and where it is acceptable for him to relieve it.

Training your dog is a time-intensive project that requires patience and solid strategy. Most inexperienced dog owners ultimately fail at training their pet because they either lack the knowledge of what to, or they become frustrated when their dog does not respond. This failure leads many to turn to the plethora of dog training books available on the internet. There are a number of excellent resources available, but what exactly makes up a good dog training book? Here are some important things to research before buying any training product.

It is easier to get two young animals to live in harmony as they will grow up together, however with a bit of time and patience (it may take up to 6-7 weeks) a young kitten or puppy can be introduced to an older pet.

Your old pet should be exposed to as many new situations, visitors and pets as possible. This will help them to adapt to any new pets in the house.

If you are getting your new pet from a shelter then you should ask the staff about its behaviour towards other animals; does it have a history of aggression toward other animals?