Among the many dog dominance behaviors, those surrounded by perhaps more myths than any others are dog mounting problems and dog humping women. No, contrary to popular opinion, these obnoxious dog instinctive behaviors have absolutely nothing to do with sex. How embarrassing, though, for those who do not know this!

“Don’t worry,” I said to a client who was bright red as he observed his male pup trying to mount mine. Visibly, the client wanted to dig a hole and hide. He was mortified! His dog aggressively continued in his attempts at dog mounting and dog humping on mine, especially going for the head. (My good-natured, large dog easily shook him off.)

“I didn’t know my dog was queer,” he said very sheepishly and apologetically. I could not contain my laughter as I reassured the man that it was not so. How common is that misconception? In the dog world, there is no such thing as a “gay dog!”

One dog mounting over another one’s head, or even unsheathing his penis, is fairly common. The mounting dog is seriously trying to seize control over all others. The unsheathing is to release his scent on the other dog, to proclaim to all the others that he won the battle over this one.

Think about this fact: If a male dog mounts a female for mating purposes, his equipment does not miss its target. He does not fail to put it in the right place. If his intentions toward another male dog were sexual, it would be done. Note that his aim, when riding up from behind the other dog, is OVER the tail and back, not under the tail. That is NOT sexual! Riding up on another dog’s back raises the first dog above him. It is a reminder that, “Hey, you’re not the boss here!”

When the dog mounts another one’s head, he is going to one of the most extreme displays of dominance in the dog world. The head is the highest part of the dog. Bringing the head down brings the dog down from his highest point. It is all about who is higher than whom.

When a dog unsheathes his penis and releases liquid, that forces the dog who is leaked on to wear the scent of the dominant one. It is a very potent scent and stays for some time, making the low rank obvious for many miles — and even to other packs within scent range.

Dogs constantly try to dominate each other. That is dog instinctive behavior, among the rituals they go through every time they meet each other. The dogs will first size each other up through eye contact. If one surrenders by lying down, then leadership is settled. If not, the wrestle for dominance truly begins.

As they wrestle for the dominant dog position, the dogs continue to mount each other until one rolls over submissively and turns his eyes away. Until the eyes have completely turned away, surrender has not happened, and the dog who is losing may try a sneak attack against the other. Look out!

We homo sapiens usually prefer the challenge of a game such as “rock-paper-scissors,” a mind game like chess or Scrabble, or a socially acceptable ball game. It is less embarrassing to the public eye.

You have sometimes seen dog fights break out as the dogs jockey for position, through wrestling or stare-down dares. Normally, however, one dog raises his head higher than the other, and the one with the lower head surrenders.

Clearly, this is an instinctive dog behavior, a ritual dogs often go through. I recommend to all who are interested to question experts and to study this dog dominance behavior for themselves. Dog humping women and dog mounting problems have nothing to do with sex, and they CAN be solved. Remember, there is no such thing as a “GAY DOG!”

Want to Stop Bad Dog Behaviors and Dog Instinctive Behaviors, such as Dog Dominance Behavior and Dog Food Aggression? Ask Dog Obedience Trainer – Dog Behaviorist, Rena Murray. Rena shares extensive Dog Behavior Modification experience, blending the best of the Dog Whisper Behavior and other dog training techniques in self-help Articles, free email Newsletter – PAW PERSUASION POINTERS , and more on her Dog Dominance Behavior web site and in her Paw Persuasion Blog. Contact Rena at PawPersuasion.com for the help you need! Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rena_Murray

Dogs as they say are man’s best friend. True enough, you cannot question the loyalty that dogs demonstrate upon their masters. They are also very affectionate as well and could even sense if something is bothering us. You may observe that quite often when you come home from a hard day at work, your dog will immediately approach you as if sensing you need some comfort or company. Many of us may have dogs in our homes or are planning to have one. It is important that we properly train our dogs to ensure not only their very own safety but most importantly for you and your family’s protection.

You are in charge

Being the master of the house, it is important that your dog is aware of where he stands as a member of your family. You have to let him know who is boss and that you don’t want him bossing around. Your dog needs to be educated with the house rules to avoid encountering future problems. You wouldn’t want your dog to be going wild, tearing at your sofa upholstery, chewing at your expensive shoes or worse getting violent and destructive which could be dangerous for you and your family. There even have been cases of dogs getting hostile to the point of sinking their teeth onto their very own masters. You have to demonstrate upon your pet that only you and your family members have the authority to have unlimited access inside the home. Your dog needs to be aware of his limited physical access and that there may be certain areas that he is not allowed entry. It is crucial that you do all these while your dog is still a puppy for as we all know it is indeed difficult to teach an old dog new tricks.

Use dog gates to train your dog

Your dog may feel some fret or apprehension when you try to isolate him or restrict his movements inside your home especially if your dog is used to being at your side most of the time. Your dog may feel abandoned and may wonder why you had to leave him shut out of your room or left inside the living room with the door shut while you are in the kitchen preparing a meal. It may be hard at first for them to understand why they are being restricted. Using dog gates could help you train as well as restrict your dog’s movements without making them feel any trouble or perplexity because the dog can see you right through the door gates. You can find numerous indoor gates that would fit your need from short gates for small dogs and tall gates for the big dogs. Most indoor gates are designed not to harm your flooring or walls.

These dog gates are also important to prevent your dog from falling or tumbling down the stairs especially if your dog is still learning how to ascend and descend your staircase. If you allow your dog upstairs, putting a dog gate on top of the stairs will let your dog go down with you by its side so you could make certain that it makes a slow climb down.

If you are concerned with how the indoor dog gate will look inside your home, you don’t have to worry for you can find numerous types in a style and design that will surely fit with the decorations inside your home.

Mark Clayson is a professional, home business entrepreneur, mentor and speaker. Visit Start Work at Home for more information on starting or developing a home business or his official site to find out more. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dr._Mark_Clayson

And you thought litter boxes were only for cats. As it turns out, litter box can also be for dogs. That is for small dogs. Usually, it is the small dogs that stay inside an owner’s home.

It makes sense to train your dog how to poop inside – preferably in a litter box. Here are a few tips to litter train a dog.

1. Get a litter box. We suggest you get the largest cat litter you can find. Remove the top so it would be customized for the dog to use. It is also easier to clean in that way. Smooth out the edges by using sand paper, preferably a rough one. Know that dogs do their business more than cats. They also do not cover up their litter with soil. Dog poop is there for everybody to see.

2. If ever you catch your dog doing his business on another area and not on the litter box you already prepared for him, say “No!” Of course, your dog must have an idea of the verbal cues and keywords. If he understands what “no” is, he’d gather that you do not appreciate him pooping or peeing there. To correct it, you can lead him to the litter box. By constantly repeating this, your dog will understand your command.

3. Most importantly, you must help your dog to get used to his litter box. Encourage him to do his business there by praising him with the verbal cues “Good boy.” You can also instill in him the command “use the box.” In that way, it would be easier for you to get your point across.

4. The key is being consistent. The litter box should always be in that exact same spot. You talk to your dogs with a mellow and assured voice. In that way, they wouldn’t be afraid of you. In fact, they would take you seriously and would also like to please you by following your commands.

After weeks of training, eight to ten at most, your dog would have already gotten used to his litter box. You can let him roam freely, without your watchful eye.

To learn more tips for dog obedience training, please go to http://www.dog-training-techniques.info/ Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Anthony_Lee

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

Pomeranians are lively intelligent dogs that are easily trained, but like many small dogs housebreaking a Pom can be a bit of a challenge. The key to successfully potty training your Pom is to start early and maintain a structured and organized training schedule.

One thing you have going in your favor is that Pomeranians, like all other dogs, are very clean by nature. They do not like to soil the areas where they sleep and eat. Also, dogs instinctively develop habits about where they do their business. Some dogs like to go on grass, others on gravel. Finding out what your dogs prefers and using that to your advantage can help in your house training task.

The first step in house training your Pomeranian is to set up the training area. Since dogs don’t like to soil there bedding, you need a confined area such as a crate or small room like a bathroom. When using a crate, make sure the dog has enough room to move around – you can’t expect your Pomeranian to be happy in a small confining crate for the duration of the house breaking period.

You need to spend as much time in the training area with your Pom as possible. Play with the dog in there and feed the dog there as well. Make sure your dog has a nice bed and can feel all comfy in the area. Don’t get discouraged if the dog does eliminate in the area at first – once he recognizes this as his own space he will be reluctant to do so. You can let the dog out in other areas when you are able to watch him, but when you are not home, keep your dog confined to “his area”.

Next you need to set up the toilet area. This needs to be a place that your dog can get to every time he has to eliminate. You need to watch the dog and accompany him to the toilet area each time he looks like he is going to eliminate. Of course, praise him when he does so he gets the idea that going there is a good thing.

If you put your dog on a set feeding schedule it will become easy to predict when your dog has to eliminate.
Once the dog is using the toilet area pretty consistently and is not going in his training area, you can expand out to the rest of the home. Widen his training area a little at a time always keeping an eye out to make sure he only eliminates in the toilet area.

When you expand into a new area, stay with your dog as much as possible. It may be necessary to put the dog back in the training area when you are not home until he recognizes that the new area is also his “space” and does not try to eliminate there.

Lee Dobbins is a pomeranian owner and dog lover. Visit her site http://www.Pomeranian-Pages.com for more dog care articles and training tips. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lee_Dobbins

Sit is one of the easiest commands you can teach your dog. And it is usually the first step or lesson in obedience training.

The simplest way to teach your new puppy or dog to sit requires that you have your dog’s food dish and integrate feeding time with training time.

This is only one method of teaching your dog to sit and there are many. However this simple way works quite well.

Prepare your dog’s food and put it in the serving bowl. Then call your puppy’s name and after your dog comes to you, you want to hold the dog food dish above your puppy’s head. This will cause your dog to raise its head and try to see into or get at the food in the dish. When he or she is leaning back toward the dish and about to fall over, you say “sit.” When your dog’s butt hits the floor, you want to give your dog lots of loving praise and then set down the food dish and allow your dog to eat.

If you do this scenario consistently with each feeding time, your dog will soon come to you and sit for you routinely for each meal.

Now this training method works best if you do not allow “free feeding” for your dog. Free feeding means that you leave the dish of dog food out at all times and your dog can eat its food whenever it feels “free” to which is basically anytime. When food is always available and not given at set times, you lose the ability to use food as a training tool and food can be one of your most powerful training advantages. You want to be able to use it to more easily train your dog. So avoid “free feeding” and don’t let other family members give your dog food either as that will dilute the training technique you are teaching.

When the weather is cold your dog will stay warm, dry, and comfortable with a heated dog house or a warming dog house heater. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ella_Sanchez

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.

If you have other questions about dog behavior issues, visit http://www.houstonveterinarianclinics.com. Joseph Devine Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joseph_Devine

Would you like to guarantee that your dog learns the most common obedience commands? This is much easier than you might believe!

Think carefully about the times you interact with your dog(s) during the day and see which of the common obedience commands you can incorporate into these interactions.

Here’s a few examples:

Examples
1. You’re bringing your dog in from outdoors. Ask him to Sit and Stay, and once you’ve walked through the door into your home, ask him to Come. Same activity going out the door, unless the dog really has to go!

2. Before you put his full food disk on the floor, ask for a Sit or a Down.

3. Your new puppy is shadowing you all over the house. As he’s following you, stop, say Come, and lavish a lot of praise when the dog comes to you (and he will).

4. My pup Alvin gets an occasional ice cube to supplement his drinking water. I get him to lie down, put the ice cube a foot in front of him, and say Leave It. Once he looks at me, I say Okay and he gets the ice cube.

5. My other pup Simon is leased in the house sometimes because he’s not fully housetrained. So we practice the Come command a lot.

What Happens When You Follow Through With These Activities?
I’m sure you can think of other situations where you can use these common obedience commands. Once you’ve done these reinforcing activities for a few weeks, they become part of the routine. Your dog will do them automatically.

You will find that it’ll make life easier for you and you will have a well-trained dog in no time. As a new puppy owner myself, anything that makes life easier is a gift!

Learn More About Common Obedience Commands Want to learn more about common obedience commands? take a quick look at this Puppy and Dog Training DVD. When you’re faced with puppy training problems and need solutions FAST, you’ll get answers from professional dog trainers in the Dog Training BIBLE, Secrets to Dog Training. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Valerie_Mills

There are three things that dogs do that can simply drive their owners crazy. Those three things are just natural doggy things to do; chewing, barking, and begging for food.

Chewing:

First, let’s talk about breaking your dog’s destructive chewing habit. We’ve all lost one of an expensive pair of shoes to puppy teeth. The fact is you are not ever going to stop a puppy or even a grown dog from chewing on things. You can, however, stop him from chewing on YOUR stuff.

Dogs chew for a variety of reasons. First, puppies will chew on anything that might be handy when they are cutting teeth. It helps the teeth to come through the gum. But dogs continue to chew after the puppy teeth are cut. The best way to stop a dog from chewing is first to provide
him with toys that are acceptable for him to chew on. Remove all of the unacceptable objects and put them out of reach. When you catch him chewing on something that he shouldn’t chew on (the dining room table for example), you say a firm “NO,” remove him from the object (do not remove the object from him), and then give him an acceptable chew toy. When he chews the acceptable toy, praise him.

Barking:

Dogs bark. There is some barking that you will never stop. For example, if your dog barks at the postman, the postman goes away, the dog succeeded. You will never break that habit, so just forget about it. Other incessant and unnecessary barking can be corrected, however. When our dog is barking unnecessarily, hold his mouth closed (gently, you don’t need to hurt him) and say a firm “NO”! With the other hand, make a closing motion. After you repeat this exercise a few times, simply showing him the “don’t bark” sign (closing motion with your hand) will stop the barking.

Begging for food:

Okay, pretty simple! Do not EVER feed the dog when YOU are eating. You ALWAYS feed a dog after you have eaten. If you never start this, you won’t have to break the habit. If the habit has already been formed, then just stop doing it. When he begs, firmly say “NO,” and don’t weaken and feed him.

Milos Pesic is a certified dog trainer and owner of popular and comprehensive Dog Training information website. For more articles and resources on dog training, dog training certification and programs, free online dog training classes, dog potty training and much more visit his site at: =>http://dog-training.need-to-know.net/ Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Milos_Pesic

So finally, after going on about whether you need one or not, you bought the dog of your dreams. Well this is great news and I hope that the puppy you purchased turns out to be just like you imagined. Wishing is not the only thing you need, you must ensure that you train your dog that will not only be to their advantage, but it will also be of some benefit to others. Given in the following articles are some of the most important things you should keep in mind when it is about training dogs to get the most benefit for both your dog and you can create a very strong bond in-between you and your dog.

The first and most important thing you have to remember is to understand the basics of training dogs. Dog training is not only to teach your dog all the tricks and obedience routines, but it is also a close link between you and your dog so you can understand each other as best as possible.

The other thing you must understand is that consistency is the key element you need to make sure you are present at any time while you are training your dog. All you need to do is be consistent to ensure that your dog has learned what you wanted.

The other thing you must keep in mind that the more you invest, the more you produce. If you can put in more time, you will see that the dog is more attached to it and more respect than you imagine.

Justin has been writing articles for almost two years now. In his spare time he creates websites, you can view his latest two websites at Con Air Blow Dryer and Senseo Coffee Machine. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Justin_R_Hopley