Dogs are great companions and the most loving creatures. However, some owners make common mistakes that can lead to aggressive behavior.

The first most common mistake is spanking or whipping your pet. Instilling fear in any animal is not appropriate, and will never encourage good behavior. Always be firm with your pet when teaching new or breaking bad behaviors - but physical aggression is the worst possible mistake. Your pet should know you are the boss, but should always be taught in a loving environment.

Second, is encouraging your dog to play tug. Because dogs can be aggressive by nature, encouraging tugging can lead to biting and/or being too rough in general. Playing tug is an aggressive game to begin with, thus encourages aggressive behavior. Instead, consider taking your dog with you to run, play Frisbee or catch, or just for a nice long walk. Burning off energy for your pet will help eliminate aggressive, pent up energy, and it will be enjoyable for all involved.

Finally, keeping your animal caged or penned up constantly is another mistake. Dogs are social animals, and like to be a part of the family. They also need a lot of attention and exercise. There may certainly be times when it is important for your pet to be confined to an area, or cage, but always make sure the area is safe, clean, has fresh food and water, and never leave them in there for more than a few hours at a time.

Understanding your dogs needs, its nature, and your responsibilities as a good pet owner are important. Dogs like routines, require love and attention, proper care and nutrition, and plenty of exercise to understand that their owner and those around them care. Give your dog love and your dog will be happy, healthy, and a joy to have as part of the family for many years.

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Training your dog to sit is not complicated. The method you'll use to train your dog to sit is known as the "lure and reward" method. You'll lure your dog into a sitting position and then reward her right away. It's a popular method because it's successful, easy for you to do, and easy for your dog to learn.

A great "side-effect" of this method is that it allows a natural motion to become a visual cue... a form of sign language for your dog. This is so cool!

Dogs are very visual and they often respond to body motions better than they do to sounds. Keep this in mind because sometimes it can work against you: to your dog, your voice may be saying one thing while your body language is saying the opposite. In dog communication, body language trumps verbal language every time.

Imagine being able to use hand signals as commands for your dog when you're on the phone, or too far away for your dog to hear you. It's definitely something worth pursuing. So let's get on with training your dog to sit.

How to Train Your Dog to Sit

1. Load up your pocket, a bag or pouch with treats.  Treats like Mark & Chappell Nutri Boosters Dog Treats. These are perfect treats for puppies. They are bit size and easy for the puppy to digest.

2. Take your dog to an area where there won't be a lot of distractions.

3. While your dog is standing, put a treat in your hand, and move your hand to within an inch or so of your dog's nose. Make sure she smells the treat hidden in your hand and is focusing her attention on it.

4. Move your hand slowly backward, about an inch over her head, between her ears, toward her tail. Keep your hand low over her head so she doesn't try to leap up to get the treat.

5. As your dog watches your hand with the treat move just above her head, she will raise her chin up-and her butt will plop down into a sitting position. When that happens, immediately give her the treat and say "Good!"

6. Now move a few steps away. Get your dog to stand and follow you.

7. Repeat Steps 3, 4 and 5.

8. Did you notice you haven't told her to "Sit" yet? Don't say that until you can get her to sit consistently by moving your treat-filled hand over her head, toward her tail. Once you're sure she's going to do this properly the next time you do that, say "Sit" a split second before you start moving your hand. When she sits, immediately reward her with the treat and "Good!"

9. Repeat this process five times, saying "Sit" just before she does so.

If your dog backs up instead of sitting down as you move your treat-filled hand over her head and toward her tail, position her so that she's facing out of a corner and cannot back up without hitting the wall.

Practice this lesson two or three times each day during the week. Vary the time of day and location.

Do no more than five repetitions during each lesson. Reduce the number of repetitions as your dog learns... eventually asking her to sit just once, two or three times a day. Dogs tend to learn to sit quickly, and repeating the lesson too often will only make them bored.

After a few of days of successful "Sit" practice, start to focus a bit on your hand movement. As you move your treat-filled hand over your dog's head and toward her tail, begin to emphasize an upward sweep of your hand... less over her head, more in an upward curve toward your body.

A very effective way to train a puppy is to crate the puppy when the it is unsuppervised.  I have heard that some people think that this is crule.  This is so far from the truth.  The truth is if you are trying to train a puppy to not soil his surroundings this one of the most effective way to accomplish this task.

Dogs naturally love den-like enclosures and an indoor kennel

crate will satisfy this desire. Dogs are also naturally reluctant to soil where they sleep so crating is an extremely effective housebreaking tool.

Below I want to look at one or two effective kennels.

42inch Large dog cage / Crate with 2 openings

This cage is collapsible in seconds when not in use.  It comes with a carry handle for easy store. Has plastic base with sides to keep in any accidents while on journey.

If you have a smaller dog then this should be a good choice.  The 36inch Medium dog cage / Crate with 2 openings.

This is a very strong solid dog cage- has 2 large openings - take seconds to fold away and seconds to set up - these are not the cheap light weight models that don't last.  These are just a few choices..

Save yourself a lot of time as a dog owner and train your dog to be obedient. It gets so much easier for both you and your dog when you have trained your dog´s obedience. Click here to learn more about training your dog.

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Cesar's Way: The Natural, Everyday Guide to Understanding and Correcting Common Dog Problems

In CESAR'S WAY, Cesar Millan -- US dog expert and star of National Geographic Channel's hit show Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan" -- helps you see the world through the eyes of your dog so you can finally eliminate problem behaviours. You'll learn:* What your dog really needs may not be what you're giving him* Why a dog's natural pack instincts are the key to your happy relationship * How to relate to your dog on a canine level * There are no 'problem breeds', just problem owners * Why every dog needs a job * How to choose a dog who's right for you and your family * And much more! Filled with fascinating anecdotes about Cesar's long-term clients, and including forewords by the president of the International Association of Canine Professionals and film star Jada Pinkett Smith, this is the only book you'll need to forge a new, more rewarding connection with your four-legged companion.

If you are considering bringing a puppy home and have never done it before, there are some important things you need to know. A puppy is a new member in your household and therefore needs your care and attention just like another human member in your home.

The pup has just left its family and is going to be lonely. So, whenever it is awake it will seek company and a caring touch. If you are not able to provide these crucial elements and of course food and water, maybe you need to reschedule the 'bringing home' event.

In the meantime do some research on what kind of an attitude you need to have and how you can care for your puppy. One thing you can expect when a new pup comes to your home is restlessness and whimpering. You can minimize this discomfort. Let's take a look how.

1st way to make a puppy comfortable: Do not bring a pup which is less than two months old. The puppy needs to be with its mother until it is two months old. It needs the nourishment, the security and the sense of identity that comes from being nursed by its mother.

2nd way to make a puppy feel comfortable: The means of transport. It's a pup remember, so treat it tenderly, gently. Bring it home as comfortably as possible.

Prepare a basket with a cushion, a coverlet and some chewable doggy toys. Put the pup in it. Make sure you caress the pup's head every once in a while during the journey home.
Talk to it. It will whimper for sure, but your soothing voice will calm it down.

3rd way to make your puppy comfortable: Introduce the pup to your home. Carry the pup around your home. Introduce it to the rest of your family. Let them and the pup get acquainted with each other.

Let the pup down and look out for it when it goes exploring. Gently but firmly stop it from doing things that are unacceptable in your household.

Fourth way to make a puppy comfortable: Prepare its corner/basket/bed in a cozy place in the house. Take the same care that you did when you prepared the basket for the transport.

The place where you intend to keep the puppy depends on the rules of your house. Some people prefer to take the pup to their bedroom; others would have it in their living room, etc.

No matter where you put it, your task is to look out for it every once in a while, caress it, talk to it (maybe you could name it right away), take it out whenever you think it might need to relieve itself.

Fifth way to make a puppy comfortable: Give the puppy a bowl of milk and some water in a separate bowl. Keep these next to its basket. Coax the puppy to drink up. If the pup does not drink at all, you might want to use a dropper to feed it some milk and water.

You might also try giving it something semi-solid, like bread soaked in milk. Keep the quantity small. Feeding it too much might cause an upset stomach, and the puppy might throw-up.

After all this might be the first time that it has had anything other than its mother's milk. Keep some soft paper towels with you to clean up any messes that you or the puppy might make.

Sixth way to make a puppy comfortable: The pup will need to relieve itself on its first night away from its family. It may not be possible for you to step out of your house in the dead of the night for the sake of the puppy.

Spread an old newspaper near the pup's basket. Whenever you see that the pup is getting restless, lift the puppy and put it on the newspaper and keep it there until it has finished its task.

The first night with the pup is going to be mostly sleepless for you, what with the whimpering and the waking up. Hey, but you won't mind, after all you love your pup don't you?

Does your new canine family member need some help fitting in? Peruse your local shoppers guide or newspapers, and you'll find dozens of ads for dog training services.... Do you know how to choose one to fit you and your dog's style?

There are many, many different ways and methods of approaching dog training, ranging from the downright violent punishment and "alpha"-based types to gentle, positive reinforcement methods.

For many years, dogs were intimidated into "obedience," and it seemed to be working. Out on the farm, a dog was expected to learn to behave with very little, but usually forceful, training or it got shot. Period.

Suburban dog owners were told that the dog needed to be taught to "obey the master", and that master did everything they could to make it so: scruff shakes, newspaper beaters, alpha rolls, rubber hose pieces, choke chains, electronic collars -- you name it, it's been tried. Dogs respond differently to avoid the punishment -- many just shut down; others go into fear-mode and cower, or they may turn that fear into aggression. The lucky ones learn to overcome the violence and mature into esteemed family members.

Trainers now have learned that, in the wrong hands, choke chains can lead to permanent damage of the trachea and larynx; that the theory behind being "alpha" has been proven wrong; that punishment is an ineffective teaching tool. Nowadays, positive training methods are more popular for the simple reason that they work and leave you with a happy, outgoing dog.

Dog training methods still vary widely, and most long-time trainers will have adapted a particular method to fit their style and clientele. Many are shifting their focus to a more positive approach.

The dog itself needs to be considered. What is his background? Did you just get a puppy, or is he a rescue with issues? What are your goals beyond basic obedience: family pet, agility, conformation shows, tracking, or any of the many other ways you can enjoy your dog's participation in a dog sport?

With your dog's makeup and your training goals in mind, look through your local newspaper or shopper's guide and make a list of the trainers' contact information; check out their web sites. Ask other dog owners how and where they trained their dogs. Contact local kennel clubs and veterinarians for recommendations.

For best results, look for trainers who use positive methods. Ask for referrals. Some dog trainers will work with you and your dog at home, but you'll be missing out on important socialization for your dog. Find out when they hold their beginner classes and ask to observe one; if the dogs are being dragged around by choke collars, go elsewhere!

Puppies should be enrolled in puppy kindergarten or play group as soon as possible for socialization. If, on the other hand, your rescue dog has aggression issues, you may need to enlist the help of a certified animal behaviorist rather than just a dog trainer. Never take aggression lightly!

Training tools like pinch collars may have a place with a very small percentage of dogs, although a "Gentle Leader" head collar may well be just as, if not more, effective.

Don't be surprised if the first class is without dogs in attendance. That's a good sign! Positive training, especially clicker training, requires a "train the trainer" introduction to teach you how to communicate with your dog effectively and how to use the tools to do so.

How to recognize a positive training class:
--the general tone will be upbeat
--training is reward-based: a desired behavior is rewarded with a treat, praise or something else the dog values
--undesired behaviors are allowed to extinguish; there will be as little punishment as possible, and usually all that's required is an "eh-eh growl" to divert the dog's attention and to tell him he's done something wrong
--undesired behaviors are counteracted by asking for an incompatible desired behavior, e.g., "sit" to stop a dog from jumping up on people
--there's usually a playtime, if the dogs are compatible
--patience; dogs are allowed time to decide to comply or offer a desired behavior

There are many good books and websites on dog training as well. Do a search on "clicker training" to find out about the most effective animal training method. This is how non-human Hollywood stars learn their tricks, and so can your dog!