From the time they are very small, many children long for their own dog. No matter how many times their parents say that they can’t have one because they probably won’t take care of it, kids persist. Having their own dog is something very special. Dogs are a different kind of playmate than other children. These pals won’t fight, or boss their friends around, and they are always fun to be with.

Even though dogs can be great playmates, the wrong match between small children and large dogs can turn play time from fun to dangerous. Luckily for the parents of children that want their own big dog, there are large breeds of dogs that are a great choice for families with small children.

Poodle

Standard poodles, which are the larger breed of poodle, are a good choice for families with small children. Poodles are very smart, affectionate, and lively. They can withstand a gentle bump or hug from a toddler, and love to play for hours with bigger children.

Labrador Retriever

This breed of dog has enough energy to keep up with very active children. They are especially loyal to their families, and have protective instincts. Labrador Retrievers are known for their easy trainability, intelligence, and good nature making them a great choice for families with small children.

Golden Retriever

Golden Retrievers are very well-tempered, love to play, and are very loyal to their family. They are an especially smart breed and children will enjoy teaching them tricks, as well as spending hours and hours playing with their very playful pal.

Airedale

It is important for families with small children to look for a dog that is loving toward children. Airedales are the perfect choice. This breed is very loving, especially toward kids. They also love to play and can be effortlessly taught to obey commands and directions.

Collies

Collies are very dependable and loyal. Though this dog’s natural instinct is to herd, collies can easily be trained and adapt to family life. This breed is very sweet-tempered and protective of its family. Collies are a great choice for a family with small children looking for a large dog.

Shetland Sheepdog

The Shetland Sheepdog is a very gentle-natured breed of dog and deals well with children. Sheepdogs do require a lot of exercise and interaction which can be a perfect fit for a family with active children.

English Springer Spaniel

The English Springer Spaniel is a very easy-going dog, which makes this breed a wonderful choice for a house full of young, loud children. This dog is also very affectionate and makes a great companion in the outdoors.

When parents make the decision to get a dog for their family they should remember that even though these breeds are more compatible with small children they are still large dogs. Sometimes accidents can occur with even the friendliest dog. Parents should make an effort to watch their small children around their large dog at all times.

It is also important for families who have small children and a large breed of dog to take the time to train their pet. A dog can be trained by professionals or at home. Even though the dog breed may be loyal, dependable, well-tempered, and great with children, dogs have natural instincts and need to learn how to live in a house. By taking precautions and training their dog, parents of small children can feel even safer about having a large dog as part of their family.

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A sure sign of a well-behaved dog is when you enter someone’s home and their pet does not jump on you in greeting. Not only is jumping on guests annoying, it can be dangerous. Large dogs can knock people down and are capable of seriously injuring small children or the elderly. Not to mention all the mud he gets on your clothes on rainy days!

Jumping on people is also a sure signal that your dog thinks he’s the leader of the pack. Watch dogs together and you’ll see them exhibiting the same behavior. Allowing your dog to jump on people undermines all your training.

These dogs have learned if they jump on people they get attention and often petted. Your job is to help them unlearn that with positive reinforcement. Here are some tips to help you do just that:

1. Ignore your dog when you arrive and leave the house. Ditch the long goodbye and the long-lost dog owner greeting. Don’t greet your pet for five minutes once you get home. This will help break the habit.

2. Do you want to dance? If a week or so of not greeting your dog doesn’t break the behavior, try this on your medium or large dog. When he jumps on you, firmly grip his paws while he’s still on his hind legs. Hold them without squeezing until he starts to squirm, then firmly command, “Off!” Some trainers recommend stepping on your pet’s back paws at the same time, but this could cause injury to your pet’s delicate feet. Holding his front paws, sometimes for several minutes, will do the trick and won’t be painful.

3. Use the leash. If guests are coming over, keep your dog on a leash. When he jumps on the visitors, pop the leash to engage his training collar, command, “Off!” and lead him to the other side of the room. Praise him after you lead him away.

Marilyn Burnham

Author: ‘Dog Owners Boot Camp’

The How To Guide, Dog Training Secrets Professional Dog Trainers Don’t Want You To Know!

For More Information On Dog Training

Marilyn Burnham was the owner operator of 4 successful dog grooming stores in British Columbia, Canada for more than a decade. To spend more time with her children Marilyn made the decision to sell her business in the mid 90′s. Get a copy of her book: ‘Dog Owners Boot Camp’ The How To Guide, Dog Training Secrets Professional Dog Trainers Don’t Want You To Know! Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marilyn_Burnham

Just because you live in a small home or apartment doesn’t mean you can’t have a dog. There are many small and toy breeds that make excellent pets for small homes. But even small dogs like variety and exercise, so it is important that you are prepared to spend time with your dog, take her for walks and ensure that she gets the best care. Once you have made that commitment to yourself, you can choose which breed of dog is most suitable to you and your lifestyle.

Small dog breeds make the cutest puppies, and one of the cutest small dog puppies around is the Maltese. This popular small dog breed generally grows to no more than six or seven pounds in weight, and has a beautiful white coat. The Maltese is a very ancient dog breed and has a strong constitution, though it should not be kept in very hot areas, due to the thick coat. The Maltese enjoys walks and is very playful. A great companion if you want a lively little pet and will enjoy the grooming chores.

Another delightful long haired small dog breed is the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. This lovely small dog is as courtly as its name and weighs about twice as much as a Maltese. The King Charles is a friendly and sociable small dog, well known for giving a lifetime of loyal attachment. This is the ideal dog if you prefer to lead a quiet life.

Top of the line in long haired small dog breeds is the Lowchen, as long as you enjoy spending long hours brushing, and don’t mind the hefty price tag. The beautiful `Little Lion’ dog can cost around $1000. A true indoors dog, the Lowchen is no exercise fanatic but owners have reported `separation anxiety’ to be a problem, so don’t get this dog breed if you are away for long hours every day.

If you want a pet with a shorter coat, try the Miniature Fox Terrier. This lively little dog will need lots of exercise, and appreciates having a collection of toys. Fox terriers can be yappy, so your pet may need to go to obedience school if she annoys the neighbors. This is a healthy and low maintenance dog breed, suitable for the owner who just wants to enjoy having a pet without all the grooming fuss.

A more sleek and elegant short haired pet is the Italian greyhound, and if you want a pet that enjoys exercise, this is the dog breed for you. Owners report that the Italian greyhound is a very well behaved dog, but prone to stress, so it is not a suitable pet where there are small children. This dog breed grows to a height of about 15 inches but is very lightweight – around 5 pounds.

The Welsh corgi is one of the classic small dog breeds, and very popular with Queen Elizabeth II of England. They will be popular with you, too, if you want a playful, affectionate pet. The Welsh corgi comes in two breeds, the Cardigan and the Pembrokeshire. The Pembrokeshire is smaller and more popular than the Cardigan, but both make faithful pets for small homes.

Finally, there is the ultimate small dog breed for apartment living – the toy poodle. Naturally popular in Europe, the toy poodle is somewhat high maintenance regarding its fluffy coat, but a surprisingly undemanding pet. Toy poodles love to play and appreciate having their own toys, but they are easy to train and adapt to their owners. Like most pets, the toy poodle prefers company to being left alone, but if you spend a lot of time away from home, perhaps you should think twice about getting a pet anyway!

Copyright © 2005, Ian White

Author Ian White is founder of Dog-Breeders.biz. This extensive online directory includes listings by private breeders, kennel clubs, and occasional hobby or family breeders. Those seeking dogs can locate and match with appropriate breeders. Dog-Breeders.biz automates the matching of dogs for sale with puppy wanted entries, with daily email notifications to all parties. Find Purebred Breeders in your area. Email notification of available puppies Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ian_White

Everyone’s familiar with the trope of the tiny terrier barking its little head off at a perceived intruder as if it were a rottweiler. They nip at heels, bark at strangers, run around the house as if they own the place. It’s such a common stereotype, in fact, that it’s hard to imagine a small dog that doesn’t act like this. In fact, this story has kept a lot of people from choosing small dogs.

But it’s important to understand that this sort of bad behavior stems more from the owners than it does from the pet. It’s a lot like how the behavior of little brats who run around screaming in restaurants has a lot more to do with bad parenting than it does with the children themselves. With proper training – which may need to come from a professional – small dogs can be taught to behave themselves and not to be yappy little hellions.

The Cause

Perhaps the largest cause in bad dog behavior is the same cause in bad child behavior: coddling. Because they’re so small and cute, owners tend to treat little dogs as they would a human baby, fawning over them, picking them up and cooing, letting them sleep in laps, and just generally failing to discipline or punish them when they should be. Barking, jumping on people, sitting on furniture – things that would be punished in larger dogs – are let slide to the point where the bad behavior is tacitly encouraged by the owner and the little dog is unaware or uncaring that its behavior is unacceptable.

The reason this starts manifesting itself in the traditional “small dog syndrome” manner is rooted in dog psychology. A dog that is never disciplined assumes that the reason he is never disciplined is that he is the leader of the pack, the alpha dog. The leader of the pack (or, in this case, the family), is responsible for the safety of the rest of the pack. That’s why the small dog will barrel around nipping at strangers, barking at presumed intruders, and generally acting like he owns the place.

The Solution

The problem here is a bit difficult, since you won’t be able to say “no” to the dog. Since it sees itself as the top dog in the pack, it doesn’t think it has to listen to you. You’ll have to show your dominance rather than vocalize your dominance. It’ll be hard at first, but remember that you’ll have to break your dog of these bad habits or forever live as #2 in your own house. If you can’t do it on your own, there are plenty of dog trainers out there who can help.

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Have you ever heard of the saying “a bundle of joy”? That is a saying that usually refers to having a baby. But when you are a Jack Russell owner, you should convert the saying to having “a bundle of energy”. Why is that so? That is because the Jack Russell is gifted with a tremendous amount of energy. Having lots of energy can have its benefits. Here are some of them.

1) Very easy to train.

A Jack Russell is naturally intelligent. When you combine intelligence with energy, you get a powerful combination. This animal is always eager to learn, and it has the energy to go through long sessions of training without feeling tired. That means you can spend more time training the dog each time. When you do that, you see results faster.

2) Great watchdog.

This breed has very powerful senses. If it sees something that doesn’t feel right, it will not hesitate to bark. That is why it is often deployed as a watchdog. Besides, it has a surprisingly aggressive nature, making it ideal for keeping trespassers at bay. You have to be a little careful of the aggressive behavior though. It may snap at strangers, or react aggressively towards strangers and children. Sometimes, this behavior is not desirable.

3) A great playmate.

A Jack Russell is always ready for a game. Playing games with the animal is good because it strengthens the bond between owner and dog. In addition, it helps to provide the exercise that Jack Russells so sorely needs. If you have children, you will observe that children will shriek with delight when the pet is around. Its excitement is contagious.

But having such boundless amounts of energy can lead to problems. For instance, Jack Russells simply cannot resist chasing after small animals. One glimpse at a bird or a bunny and it goes tearing across the yard before you can bat an eyelid. Since this is a natural instinct, there is no need to deliberately suppress this behavior. It’s just natural to the dog. But you must take measures to ensure that the terrier don’t misbehave when in public places. For instance, it isn’t nice to have your pet chasing other puppies.

Therefore, if you are considering buying a Jack Russell, be prepared to spend a fair amount of time training the animal. The good news is, because of its intelligence, most terriers will learn how to behave quickly enough.

The benefit of having a puppy is that you can influence its behavior while it’s still young. When you buy an adult dog, you can’t really train the dog that much. You will find it difficult to retrain an adult dog. So choose carefully before making a purchase.

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Every dog owner will definitely feel proud and happy if Fido go potty on command, does not jump on people neither chew the furniture and other household stuff. Surely, having a reliably trained jack russell terrier is one of the joys of having a canine companion… and this can be attributed to effective jack russell training.

Being fearless, intelligent and extremely energetic breed, a jack russell terrier may not only excel in obedience, agility or hunting. A jack russell may also excel in doing amusing dog tricks when training is provided. When training dog tricks, it is important that:

• there must be a medium of communication between you and your dog. Since dogs cannot talk the way humans do, try to understand their signals and responses. Know that a dog that is confused, nervous, happy, distracted, stressed or ill will not learn efficiently so be wary of the signs your dog is trying to convey.
• training must be done in a step by step process. Don’t expect that your dog will perfect the “play dead” trick without having to master the basic commands such as “come”, “down” or sit. Start from the basic and move your way up from there.
• training sessions must be fun and interesting both for you and your dog. It is an advantage if they are mentally and physically challenged to prevent them from boredom. It is also recommended to keep training sessions short.
• training sessions must end with rewards and praise to associate the training with something positive and good. Doing so will make him look forward to fun and interesting training sessions.
• appropriate training methods are utilized. Positive reinforcements are widely used and recommended by many dog owners for it has been known to work on most dogs. Physical punishment is not an option for it will only cause aggression, dominance issues and other behavior related problems.
• owners are aware that not all dogs are the same even if they are of the same breed. If your friend’s jack russell mastered the trick in two days, that does not necessarily mean that it will be the same for you and your dog. So don’t get frustrated if you have been teaching your jack russell to roll-over for three days.

Training a jack russell to do tricks is not impossible given this breed’s natural intelligence and oozing stamina. You just have to use the appropriate approach in order to become successful with your jack russell training.

Richard Cussons provides helpful information on dog ownership including jack russell training advice. Find out more jack russell terrier training information at jackrussellsavvy.com. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Richard_Cussons

Chewing is common among dogs. They do not chew to purposely destroy your belongings because they are angry or spiteful. A dog’s mouth is actually not just for eating or destroying things only. To creatures who don’t have hands just like humans do, the mouth is the best tool to pick up and check on things and transport things from one place to another. They also use their mouth to communicate which is very important especially in Jack Russell training. Chewing therefore is a natural behavior of dogs and you cannot just training them to stop chewing completely.

The best thing to do in order to handle this situation is to train them what they can and cannot chew. Keep your belongings out of your pet’s reach. Shoes, socks, books and other things you do not want destroyed should not be left lying around. Even old shoes, clothing and socks should not be given to dogs to chew on because they cannot tell the difference between the old and new.

Since it is not right to totally curtail a dog’s instinct to gnaw on things, direct his attention to things that you want him to chew such as chew toys. Your dog should have lots of it and must be appealing in order to keep him interested. If your dog is fond of chewing things with your scent on them, leave the toy in your laundry hamper for days before giving them to your dog. You may also want to rub something tasty or stuff the toy with anything your dog finds rewarding. When you feel like your dog is up to something, remove the item and give him chew toys instead to divert his attention.

When shopping for dog toys, choose toys that are safe for your pet. Toys that are easily broken or with small parts can be dangerous to your pet so beware of these items. There are also washable toys available.

And just like other behavior problems, the desire to chew can be minimized with regular exercise. Dogs that are physically and mentally stimulated are less likely to get bored thus they are also less likely to chew and become destructive. Interesting and fun Jack Russell training is the way to go!

Richard Cusson is a dog enthusiast and has been writing Jack Russell training tips. Check out jackrussellsavvy.com to learn more Jack Russell terrier training advice. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Richard_Cussons