The benefits associated with going to a good dog trainer or dog training school are enormous. Your dog's health, wellbeing and behavior are determined by the training you provide. Plus obedience training helps to build and strengthen the close bond you and your dog will enjoy.

A trained dog is so much better off than an untrained one. The number one reason why we have such a large number of dogs ending up in animal shelters and being destroyed is various behavioral problems. Problems that in many cases can easily be prevented or extinguished through some obedience training.

How To Choose A Great Dog Training School

• One of the first and most important criteria for choosing your dog training school is the training style they employ. Look for a class that uses humane, non violent dog training methods. Look for trainers who encourage and reward desirable behavior in their students rather than by using intimidation and heavy handed punishment. Consider a clicker training class that relies on repetition, cooperation and positive reinforcement to achieve the desired result.
• Check out the credentials, accreditation and experience of the trainers. Also it's important that trainers continue to learn and further their skills. Most important when choosing a dog trainer is that you determine if they have a genuine love of dogs and enthusiasm for the task at hand. Or are they training dogs because they love the species or are they just going through the motions like it's some 9 to 5 dead end job?
• Go and have a look at a few classes before making your decision. Most dog training schools will welcome this and even expect it of their potential clients. Make note of the equipment used in classes, the class sizes, general atmosphere (should be fun!), cleanliness and safety.
• Check out the success stories, testimonials and references of the dog training schools you are considering. Do they have happy and satisfied clients?? A great source of information and feedback can be unearthed by speaking with your Vet, your dog groomer or talking with dog lovers at dog shows or your local dog park.
• Work out what you expect from going to dog training school and write down any goals you have for your dog. Then match this up against the class schedule offered at your local schools.
• Check that the schools take vaccinations seriously - especially if you are going to a puppy kindergarten class. You should be asked for proof that your dog has been properly vaccinated and is up to date with all shots.
• Can you get one on one support if needed? This may be important to you and your dog at some stage. You need to be the person training your dog but sometimes it is handy to get some individual help. Something to keep in mind is that dog training is not an intuitive process, you need to be educated how to do it by someone who is properly trained and experienced.
• Other factors of less importance are the location of the school and also the price of the lessons. What you spend in terms of both time and money will be well and truly paid back by the benefits gained through obedience training.

Good luck in finding a suitable dog training school for you and your dog. Once you settle on a school that you believe is a good fit then the hard work will begin! Remember that training your dog is not something you do once a week when you go to class, it should be an ongoing process that you build upon each and every day.

Training your dog is crucial for your dog's health, behavior and wellbeing. The food you feed to your dog also plays a vital role in your dog's life -

Weather changes affect us all, even our fur-encased dogs. You might think that that nice warm coat of fur is sufficient to keep the chill off, but it really is not. Add in the overall atmospheric changes, the storms, and of course: the ice and snow, and your dog has a lot to deal with, especially if he's more often outside than in! Follow these guidelines for making your dog's winter as comfortable and warm as yours is.

Dog-Proof During the Holiday Festivities
Dogs are smart and scavengers, and the two traits combined can spell trouble really fast when there is people food hanging around. ome of the goodies people put out for the holidays may be toxic to your dog (chocolate, I'm looking in your direction), and some of it will just make your dog put on a lot of weight. So put up your holiday goodies in a safe place; where even a tall dog can't reach them.

More Exercise
It's tempting to just curl up and let the winter pass us by, but the best way to stay warm is to be active. That goes for dogs too. Amp up your dog's exercise regimen and you'll be both be warmer!Give Me Shelter
Especially important for dogs that spend most (or all) of their day outside, a good, strong shelter to keep the wind off is essential. Dogs can freeze to death, even the Nordic breeds with their thick, shaggy fur. Your dog's winter dog house should be well-insulated and just big enough for him to stand up, turn around, and lie down completely inside comfortably. A doghouse that is too big won't contain your dog's body heat and stay warm.Fresh Water
Snow is not a water substitute. In fact, eating snow can increase your dogs thirdst and bring his body temperature down, putting him at risk for hypothermia. Make sure your dog always has easy access to fresh, not frozen, water. Keep the Antifreeze Out of Reach
Wipe up any spills from your car and keep the jug in a secure location. Antifreeze is a sweet-tasting, and fast-acting poison, so be sure that your dog can't get to any of it. You might also want to consider switching to a non-toxic antifreeze product as well.

Dr. P's Dog TrainingIt doesn't get any better than this. Dr. Mark Plonsky has put together a staggering resource of quality dog training and behavior articles. Brilliant website covering all aspects of dog care, training and health issues. You could literally spend days exploring this site.
Karen Pryor Clicker TrainingFor anyone interested in Clicker Dog Training this is the website for you - there is even some free sample video of the clicker training process in action.
K9 EventsThis is a huge resource of dog training tips, articles and advice. It can be a bit tricky to navigate your way around this website but it really is worth the trouble. Whatever stage you are at with your puppy or older dog you will find relevant, quality information within this great Australian dog training website.
Dogpatch - The Dog Obedience and Training PageAnother fantastic collection of basic dog training information, behavior problem articles and obedience training tips.
PetPlace - Dog Training TipsAnother great website for us dog lovers to explore. This site has hundreds of high quality articles covering such topics as - how to choose a puppy, how to properly feed your dog, solving problem behavior in dogs and how to train your dog.
The Humane Society of The United StatesLots of articles mainly discussing the health and proper care of your dog. You'll also find some free dog training videos presented by animal behaviorist Tamar Gellar.