Like many dog owners I didn’t know the first thing about training a dog. Well, we think we do because the dog sits or offers us a paw when we have a treat in our hands but those are just party tricks.

Then I bought my very own dog when I got a place of my own. As she grew she changed from loveable pup into a liability. She wandered off, never came when called and turned into the Tasmanian Devil whenever anybody called around. The final straw came when she tore into the room and scrambled up to sit on the shoulders of a visitor who had come to assess me for a voluntary position. He was not a dog lover and I can still remember the look on his face now…

Trouble was, I had always treated dogs as furry friends, always giving in to those sad-looking eyes and never realizing that the dogs saw me in a totally different way. Dogs are pack animals and as such they are acutely aware of their position in the pack – and you and your family are its pack, even if there’s just the two of you.

Grasp that little fact of dog psychology and you are well on your way to a happier dog. From now on you are going to make it plain to your dog that you are the Alpha male or leader of the pack and what you say goes. See that furniture? That’s mine. You lie on the floor or in your dog basket. Don’t feed the dog tidbits from the dinner table – in fact the dog should be in his basket while you eat, and he only gets fed after everybody else has finished.

But isn’t that just being mean and taking all the fun out of owning a dog?

The leader of the dog pack eats first. He sleeps in the best spot. The Alpha male takes no notice of subordinate dogs fussing around him when he returns from the hunt. When you consistently act as leader you are communicating to your dog in a language he understands.

When you come home, ignore your dog’s frantic attempts at attention seeking until he calms down – then you praise him. It won’t be long before your dog realizes he’s gone down a few notches in the pack hierarchy and acts accordingly. You’ll soon find that your dog greets you quietly and quickly settles down as he’s worked out that is when he receives praise from you.

Still not convinced that training your dog makes him a happier dog? Look at it from the dog’s point of view. He’s living in a human world full of confusing things and behavior he can’t understand. By not teaching your dog his place in your pack he will feel it’s his place to take charge. But this leaves him feeling stressed, resulting in an unruly and confused dog constantly trying to make sense of an overwhelming world it cannot understand.

But when you assume command as leader of the pack, you take that responsibility off his shoulders. Just like a well-trained soldier, he will be happy knowing his place, his role in the pack and what’s expected of him – and happy to defer to your leadership knowing you’ll take care of the “big stuff”.

However my dad was nice with ours. A little slight yank to get the point across and my dog was sure to respond. However, I have seen people be positively vicious with them; to the point that the dog cried out in pain. This of course is not surprising when the dog is lifted off of their feet by a chain that is choking the air out of them.

To me the whole dog training collar thing seems to kind of go against a lot of the other stuff I have read. Everyone seems to say that you should not yell at your dog when they do something wrong, but instead show them the correct behavior and praise them for it. To this end the choker collar seems to be a little out of the scope of things. I’m not positive but I am pretty sure that choking your dog, whether lightly or almost to the point of death can not be considered positive reinforcement.

There must be other dog training collars that work just as well but, then again maybe not since the chocker seems to be the most prevalent. I also have just learned of another atrocity in this area, as my friend sitting next to me just apprised me of the fact that some collars have studs so that when the owner chokes the dog the dog also gets stabbed; sounds so humane and efficient doesn’t it?

Dog leads

A dog lead is a simple tool but can keep your dog safe. With the use of dog leads you can keep your dog close to you thus making it convenient for you. Although your dog is kept within a safe range your dog can still walk around comfortably and still be able to enjoy the walk.

Dog leads can be made from all sorts of materials thus the prices may vary. What’s important is for you to get one that is most comfortable to your pet.  The most common type of dog lead that can help you train your dog is a retractable dog lead. A retractable lead allows you to adjust the length of the so you can shorten or lengthen it as necessary.

Personal preference

Other than the needs of your dog, you also need to think about your own preference with regards to the color and the other characteristic of the dog lead. Since there are various dog leads that you can choose from, you can select one that is perfect for your pet dog.

A dog collar can add appeal to your dog plus you can show off your style as the dog owner through the different dog collar designs. So how can you find the dog collar that is suitable for your dog? This article will guide you in finding the right dog collar for your pet dog.

You wouldn’t really know the quality of the dog collar unless you try it. The first thing that you can do is search for pet owners who have the same breed of dog as you and check what king of dog collar the are using. Verify the performance of the dog collar and if their dog is comfortable with it.

If you already have a dog collar in mind, look for people whose dogs have the same collar, then interview the owners. You can also visit pet stores to personally check the dog collars.

The most important thing that you should think about when buying dog collars is the comfort that it gives to your dog. Although the design is important, you can’t disregard the ease of your pet so pick one that suits your taste and your dog’s needs.

Leather leads are by far the most popular leads on the market.  Primarily due to their durability, their comfort for your pet and their classic designs.  If you are looking for a leather lease for your dog, there are a few things you will want to think about before you make your investment.

Different dogs have different leash needs and requirements.  It is always a good idea to check out leads for your particular dog breed to ensure that they are getting the very best that you can afford.

The leads themselves may come in a variety of different designs including:-

• Leads with Trigger clips, with or without looped handle
• Slip Leads and Adjustable Slip Leads
• Buckle Leads
• Tag Leads
• Chain Leads and
• Training Leads

After researching the various designs and particularly the ones specific to your breed, you will want to ensure that you caring for your leather lead to keep it in optimum condition for years to come.

photo credit: greenkozi

So your a sports fan.  There is no good reason not to have your best friend be one too.  With the huge selection of different leads available, you are sure to find your own sports fan lead or collar and enjoy being fans together.  So where are the best places to look?

Although there are a lot of leads made available through official sports fan memorabilia websites, sometimes you have to dig a little deaper.  Any all too often it’s the collars that get the mot attention with Hot Dog Collars being the forerunner in sport fan collars, but Sporty K9 is the winner when it comes to getting leads and collars for your favourite team or college.  They specialise in Baseball, Basketball and College pet gear of all size and description.

A specilized collar like this shouldn’t cost you more than a tenner, and the leads can be found in the region of fifteen to twenty dollars.  You don’t have to stop there, as there are dog bandanas in team colors available too for the more adventurous this summer.

Show Dog Leads come in two very distinctive designs with the snake lead being the most popular one in use at shows.  Here is an example of this lead in action at the 2007 Westminster Dog Show where this wonderful Shiba Inu shows off this lead to its best.

Show leads are specifically designed not to interfer with the dog in any way. They are primarly just to guide the dog in the right direction but at no time should they mess with the dogs hair or neck line and should never be so flashy as to distract from the dog itself.

Here is an addition video about how this conformation lead works and how best to put the lead on your show dog.

photo credit: phunkstarr

For many the idea of having a pet is more than just having a friendly animal in the home, it’s about making them an integral part of their everyday lives.  Designer dogs need designer leads and making sure that you lovable pooch has the very best outfit and that it matches your own means spending a little more money for that special look.

There are a variety of different Designer Dog Leads available depending on your own personal taste and style and as with any designer, you will eventually discover who your favourite is and frequent their shop regularly to stay in fashion.

Even if you are not entirely inclined to go that far, you can make sure that you’re little one has a great looking lead to suit just about any budget.

Perhaps you would be more inclined to have a favourite sports team lead or something a little greener.  Eco-friendly leads are all the rage and you can find them made from hemp, bamboo and recycled materials.  Whatever your taste, you’re sure to find something to suit.

photo credit: tanakawho

Training your pooch to walk on a leash can be a very slow process.  Some dogs are more prone to the exercise while others tend to feel restrained by the leash.  There are however leads and leashes that will come ot the rescue and will make the process of training that much easier.

Many of the standard training leashes allow for more control by having a shorter leash.  This is great, but if your dog has the inclination to run ahead, keeping him back can become a strain on your own body.  There are tweeter leashes that will make a sound each time your dog pulls ahead.  The sound distracts them and they stop in their tracks. Very quickly, they understand that they are not meant to pull forward and this takes the strain of training off your body.

There are various training leads that cater for your own specific needs.  You will want to research such things as how strong will your lead be depending on the overall strength and temperament of your dog as well as what their own issues may be.

If you find that you are still having trouble with your dog after using a particular lead type, you may do well to research certain harnesses to prevent your dog from pulling too much by the neck.  Harnesses are also very good at being able to control your dog more.

Long Leads

Using long leads for training is very popular and is a great way to give your pet the freedom to roam while stilling have control.  There are some that offer various lengths but the most popular are the 5m, 9m and 12m.  They can also be used to train your dog to remain in a certain radius of the home or to control areas that they can access within the home.

The Police variety has a three point restraining system that allows for different lengths so you only have to buy one lead to cater for various circumstances.

photo credit: Blyzz

No matter what size dog you have, giving them a little extra space on a freestyle walk means that you will appreciate having a retractable dog leash. They are much easier to store as they take up far less space and can be easily kept in your backpack or handbag.

What are the main advantages and disadvantages of retractable dog leashes?

Starting with the advantages. There are a variety of different makes that are made for bigger dogs, so you no longer have to concern yourself with the durability and reliability issues, particularly with an animal that is less predicatable.

They are great for cycling as they have a little more give than the standard leads and are very easy to store. While retractable leads are better suited to smaller dogs that can be controlled better, it is also a very good idea to search out models that have a brake system in place to prevent your little friend from taking advantage of too much rope so to speak.

The main disadvantages of this type of lead is that unless you have a well trained dog, they may tend to pull on the lead, which will allow them more room to get out of hand than is necessary.

Retractable leads are easily to locate and can be found in a variety of materials and designs. If you are looking for that something special, there are a variety of designer leads to look at and for the more rugged look, research companies that offer stronger materials.

photo credit: Steve & Jemma Copley