What does it cost to own a dog for their lifetime? Let’s take a look starting with a puppy. The first year is more expensive because you’ve got more vet bills, vaccines, and one time costs like bowls, crates, pen etc. so we can just add a number at the end for the first year. Average YEARLY costs for  your dog after the 1st year would be around:

• Vet bills  around $120. Could be more if your dog is prone to things like ear infections etc.
• Vaccinations – $70
• Heartworm, flea and tick prevention – $75
• Food will be $300
• Treats, bones, toys etc. $50
• Boarding $125 unless you have someone to watch them while you’re on vacation.
• Grooming costs $20 -  this depends on your dog breed, but they still need brushing, baths, shampoo, nail clippers etc.

These come out to be anywhere from $635 without any boarding to $760 if you take a vacation and board the dog.  So if we take the middle and you only take a vacation every other year that would be $700.  For 14 yrs you would spend $680/yr and that would come out to be …$9800…. Now add in the extra costs you have for the first year like:

• Spay or neutering -  $150
• A tie out, dog house, kennel or fence. This could vary widely from a $20 tie out to a kennel for $300 or a fenced in area.
• Crate – $50
• Collar and leash – $15
• bowls – $15
• cleaner -$30 you’ll probably have to buy a little extra stain cleaners the first year.

These add about $260. So there you have it…..$10,000…..These are of course averages and I think pretty conservative. I know we spend more on vet bills than $120. Some years you may not spend this much, some years more. I had a dog that lived to be 19 yrs old but you never know.

Do I Need Special Dog Training?

So if you spend that kind of money on your dog, it would be worth spending a little extra to have a dog that obeys you, that you can have a great relationship with. There are many great dog training courses out there. There are also some that aren’t that good. You are the best trainer for your dog, you are the one they will bond with and you are the one that will be there all the time. Find the best dog training course for you. One that covers the whole lifespan of your dog, from puppy obedience training to dealing with health problems dogs have as they get older. Check out our reviews of the best dog training courses we have tried out. Yes we read through these courses and used techniques from them with our own dogs.

Morten and Cecilie

This course has a book (over 200 pages) that you download and 5 videos that you can watch on your computer. Written by Morten Egtvedt and Cecilie Koeste originally in 2001 and has had many updates. Clickertraining: The 4 Secrets Of Becoming A Supertrainer is a  great course that uses the same philosophy that we like – positive  reward based dog training methods.

The book starts out by giving their background and a little section that is addressed to the dog, not the dog owner. Telling the dog how their owner is going to be acting strangely for a few days until they (the owner) are trained. It does give you a little perspective on what it will seem like to learn what clicker training is all about. Let me tell you that this really opened my eyes. This is different than traditional dog training methods and it is based on operant conditioning. They give a great explanation of that as they tell you the history, the 4 core principles, the theory and how you apply these techniques to dog training.

Let me say that this has really opened my eyes and mind on how to train a dog. And don’t get hung up on the clicker. The clicker is what they use for a conditioned reinforcer meaning the reward is on the way. You can use anything as the conditioned reinforcer, a whistle, praise, hand clap, word, anything you want.

The Benefits of Clicker Training

• You reward wanted behavior and ignore unwanted behavior so you get a dog that wants to train rather than a dog that is afraid to train.
• You don’t lure the dog to do a behavior, you wait for the dog to voluntarily do it. This means you won’t end up with a dog that you have to lure to get what you want. Ever call your dog to come while waving a treat?
• Your timing for reinforcement can get very precise. That makes the dog training very efficient and saves time.
• You train the behavior first, then add the cue. That makes the cue more reliable.
• After a few months, you get a clicker smart dog. Your dog knows how to play the game and it makes learning new things fun and they learn faster.

Conclusion

Any success in dog training whether it is traditional or clicker is determined by the trainer’s skills. The 4 secrets you discover in this course will help you become more successful in your puppy training or older dog training. This is a great course that you should check out.
Visit their site at www.clickertrainingacademy.com

What Do You Get In Dove Cresswell’s Puppy and Dog Training Online Course?

The course is made up of 7 complete dog training lessons which you can watch on your computer. The 7 video lessons are clear and easy to follow. You also get 8 free bonus audio lessons when you purchase Dove’s dog training course. I can give you a few bits of each lesson, but there is much more to each one than I can divulge. There are also some techniques she recommends that I had not thought of.

Video #1 – Puppy Housebreaking / Potty Training

This video covers both toy breeds and all other breeds, you can choose to watch the training for toy breeds or all other breeds. You can watch both if you want. She does have different techniques because of the size of your puppy and the size they will end up being when grown. A few things she recommends that I agree with are:

• She recommends using a crate for puppy potty training which I totally agree with.
• Learn how to use positive reinforcement for house breaking.
• How to deal with the inevitable accident and how to keep that to a minimum.

Video #2 – Crate Training

Dove had some insights in this lesson when you think “Yeah, that’s right, they do do that”. This lesson covers using a crate for:

• Using the crate to correct behavior problems.
• How to pick the right crate.
• What NOT to do when crate training your puppy.

Video #3 – Basic Dog Obedience

This video covers things like body language and tone of voice and how they are so important in puppy obedience training. A reason this format she chose works so well, because you can hear her voice as she would when training your dog or puppy. This lesson covers:

• Why voice and body language are important and how to use them.
• Choosing the right words for commands.
• The type of collars and leashes to use and the types that don’t work.
• What NOT to do when correcting your dog.

Video #4 – Walking Politely On A Leash – The Informal Heel

Everybody wants to learn how to train your dog to do this. This video covers:

• Tools you should use what you shouldn’t use
• Leash techniques that are effective.
• How long training should last.

Video #5 – The Recall

This video covers the tools you will need to train your dog to come every time the first time you call them. This video gives you the way to correct your dog and when and how much to praise your dog for certain things they do.

• When and how to praise your dog.
• How to correct your puppy.

Video #6 – Good Puppy and Dog Manners

This video covers quite a few different behavior problems. It also covers some commands that are used to prevent bad behavior. Some of the dog behavior problems covered are:

• How to stop dog jumping on people.
• Dog Barking
• Dog Whining
• Counter Surfing. Some simple yet very effective solutions. This will make you smile.

Video #7 – Special Dog Tricks

This video gives you insights as to why teaching your dog tricks is good for them. Training techniques to teaching tricks that will get them to learn quickly.  A few tricks she teaches are:

• Shaking their paw
• Waving
• Roll Over

Additional Bonuses

Dove has included some bonuses with her course.These are audio lessons.

• Be in touch with Dove directly. You can email Dove a question, enter your email and receipt and she will answer.
• Teach your dog to fetch.
• Train your dog to play soccer.
• Teach them hide ‘n seek.
  
• Information on dog sports. Agility, Rally Obedience and Flyball
• How to easily earn your dog’s respect.
• Choosing the right dog food and treats.

Conclusion

As I went through each lesson I liked this course more and more. Dove is a great teacher. What I like about this course is that you are taught the methods that a professional trainer uses to train specific things. She tells you what is really important in each lesson. The things that you must do but also the things you must never do. Each lesson is easy to understand, and the techniques she uses are so easy to do that you just want to get started training your puppy right away. You just have to remember what she says about when the training session should end. Every new puppy owner should have this course. So many things can be trained very simply if you start them when your puppy is young, and you do them correctly. This course is highly recommended. Visit Dove’s website here.

We have had dogs our whole lives and I’d rather be safe than sorry, which has resulted in many unnecessary trips to the vet, although it does set my mind at ease. Our dog health section has articles on some of the more common dog health problems we come across as dog owners.

Please browse through the site and hopefully you will find the treatment for you dog’s health problem.

What Do You Get With This Course

Secrets of a Professional Dog Trainer Book - This book is 316 pages, around half that downloaded. It has a simple layout and the writing style is very matter of fact. BUT it covers every part of dog ownership you can think of. Just take a look at his website and you can see the ton of material he covers. His philosophy is to communicate with your dog the way other dogs would communicate to each other.

He believes in praise and reward when the dog does what is wanted and correction when he doesn’t. Something I happen to agree with. As a matter of fact, there is quite a lot in this book that I happen to agree with. Some of the many things covered are:

• How to choose a puppy
• How professional trainers train their dogs
• How to teach your dog hand signals
• Stop puppy biting
• Stop your dog from digging
• Training with an electronic collar
• Stop your dog barking

There are many more behavior problems that you learn how to correct. I like the fact that he does go into some things that are beyond what you find in many of the dog training books and courses.

Bonuses – We All Like Free

Bonus 1 – Eight Secrets To Becoming The “Alpha Dog”

We’ve all heard of being the Alpha Dog. What he teaches you is why your dog needs to have a leader. That is when they are the happiest. Once you become the “Alpha Dog,” your dog will

• Show you new-found respect
• Begin responding to you like never before
• Want to please you
• Respect you at all times

Bonus 2 – Where To Buy Pet Products At Wholesale Prices

He tells you how he gets his pet products at dirt cheap prices

Bonus 3 – Teach Any Dog To Walk On A Loose Leash In Less Than 10 Minutes!

This is one of the most asked for lessons by dog owners. Check out this video:

Bonus 4 – Puppy Primer:How To Know When To Teach Behaviors

Shows training a puppy from birth to 1 yr.

Bonus 5 – Fixing Aggression Problems

Tells you the 4 types of aggression and how one technique works on 9 out of 10 dogs.

Bonus 6 – How To Choose A Vet

This comes as an MP3 audio and a downloadable transcript. Not all vets are alike.

Bonus 7 – Unlimited Consultations

This is with a moderated discussion group.

When you buy this book you get a free 30 day pass for full access to the Member’s Only Subscription Site. Be aware that to in order to be a member of this site there is a $9.95/month membership fee.

This book normally sells for $64.97 and the membership site was $14.95/month. He has reduced the price for the bookk for a short time and you can get this book for $37.00. That’s just 2 bags of dog food for me.

Check out DogProblems.com

Check out these dog training videos made by DogProblems.com

There are many different methods of training for our dogs. It’s hard to decide which one to use. There is the dog whisperer theory, alpha dog theory, the clicker method and the reward method. There is a leash and collar method also. One course that covers them all would be great to have.

Relationship Based On Trust and Respect

We want a good relationship with our dogs that is based on trust and mutual respect, not fear of pain or punishment. A dog that is well socialized and behaves around people. You also want your dog to obey in any situation. We all want the perfect dog.

Which courses actually deliver what they promise and produce results?

The purpose of this section is to check out which courses deliver what they say. And over-deliver on their information so we get the best value for our money. What do you get in the course as far as learning aids. They should have videos, audio, pictures and lessons. Member areas or forums. For people like us that want to train their dogs themselves, at home, we need the best information that covers the latest techniques, AND we need to be able to learn from it.

What All Courses Should Have

The courses I look for must exceed certain expectations.

• The techniques must have absolutely no cruelty, no intimidation, and use positive reward.

• The training techniques must work. Sounds simple but not all techniques work for the long term.

• They must be cover puppy obedience training and dog behavior problems, not just a dog training course based on tricks.

• Downloadable. I like downloadable products because there’s no waiting, they can be printed out for a hard copy, and they can be stored in multiple places.

• Does the course recommend products that are not their own? I think this is important because it shows they are really trying to provide you with every resource they can, not just to make money.

These courses come with one or more of the following:

• Book/Manual – Covers their dog training course, usually covers dog behavior, dog obedience, may cover some dog grooming.

• Videos: This is almost a must nowadays. I love being able to actually see their dog training techniques in action.

• Member area: Some may charge extra to access this area, I think it should be free. Who doesn’t like free?

• Forum. Some may charge extra for certain things such as the member’s area.

Dog Training Courses Reviews

Secrets of a Professional Dog Trainer Review – Adam Katz of Dogproblems.com

Secrets To Dog Training Review – formerly known as SitStayFetch-Daniel Stevens

YES! I want to claim my free instant access to the Secrets to Dog Training 6 Day Dog Behavior and Training course ($27 value).

Your Name:
Your email Address:
(This is a private and fully protected mailing list. You can unsubscribe at any time).

When you login you see some recommended products (not their own) that you can get at a discount for being a member. You can also upgrade to the Secrets of Dog Training Premium Package which is what I will review here.

The Downloads Area

There is a button in the menu bar for downloads.  This is what I received in the Premium Members Area. There is a course section and a bonus section.

In the course section you  can download the Secrets to Dog Training book in pdf form.  This book is big, over 250 pages and 100 photographs. It covers everything from puppy stages to advanced obedience training. Also covers how to correct your dog’s behavior problems with step by step instructions.

Next there is the Secrets to Dog Training Video. It can be downloaded in PC or MAC versions.

Bonus Section – Who Doesn’t Love Free?

Bonus 1-Dog Food Secrets Book

75 Gourmet Recipes book that your dog will love! This book covers not only a bunch of recipes for your dog but also what food to avoid.

Bonus 2-The Top 20 Consultations

This book  includes 20 of the best consultations that they have answered!

Bonus 3 – Secrets to Becoming the Alpha Dog V5

Learn about the importance of the pack leader, identifying challengers for the role of pack leader, etc.

Bonus 4 – Dog Grooming Made Easy

Find out about preparing your dog for grooming, how to give your dog a bath, nail clipping, the best way to clean your dog’s face, eyes & ears, using clippers to maintain your dogs coat, dental hygiene and the essential grooming equipment!

Bonus 5 – House Training Methods and Tricks

Learn easy ways to house train your dog, use the Direct Method for an outdoors dog or use the Paper Method for an indoors dog! Plus 10 helpful tips on making house training a success!

Bonus 6 – A Quick Guide To Dog Agression

Learn how to identify the first signs of aggression, stop your dog from acting aggressively towards children, strangers and other dogs.

Bonus 7 – Tips on Security Training Your Dog

Interested in security training your dog? Which breed should you choose? Professional training or home training? Find the answers here!

Plus an mp3 audio for the book Secrets to Dog Training so you can listen anywhere, anytime.

You’ll Also Get More Stuff

• The newly released “Kingdom of Pets Dog Training Series” Online Video Series by Brian Heward and Susan Morton. There are 6 titles and over 5 hours of footage that includes the following titles:
• How to Stop Dog Aggression (Part 1)
• How to Stop Dog Aggression (Part 2)
• How to Stop Your Dog from Barking
• How to Stop Your Dog’s Biting & Chewing Problems
• Alpha Dog Training
• AND In Field Training: Real Life Case Studies of Dog Training in Action
• AND the fantastic software Secrets to Dog Training Pro, which allows you to keep track of all the necessary and important details about your dog such as medical history, vaccinations, operations, appointments, obedience training, and much more.

This is a fantastic course. It has everything you need to learn the proper way to train your new puppy or dog. To learn more about their program, visit their website by clicking here.