Wolves are exceptional predators with a complex set of behaviors, signals and communication methods guiding their behavior. Their bodies and brains are the result of millions of years of evolution that has resulted in perhaps the ultimate co-operative hunter.

Dogs are directly descended from wolves and have been domesticated for only 15 000 years or so, a mere blip on the evolutionary scale. So it makes sense that many of the wolf's instincts and drives are still present in dogs.

Once you accept this, a lot of your dog's behaviors will begin to make sense.

Here are some of the common dog behaviors and their motivations.

Pack Hierarchy: The wolf pack has a simple, but effective hierarchial structure. At the top is the alpha male and his mate. The rest of the pack are usually their offspring although it may include other, non-related wolves. All however, unquestionably follow the alpha male.

Dogs also look for leadership in their human "pack". Where none is present, they will feel compelled to take up the role themselves, leading to dominance issues.

Body Language: Wolves (and dogs) use a complex body language to communicate and usually, this "language" carries more weight than any form of vocalization. Body language uses the tail, ears, eye contact, body movements, posture and facial expressions to get the message across.

These signals are often misunderstood by humans. For example, many asume that a dog who wags his tail is happy when he may in fact be highly aggitated and ready to bite.

Territorial Aggression: In the wild, wolves will stake out a territory, then patrol and defend it against intruders. The same behavior can be seen in dogs. They will naturally protect what they perceive as their territory, whether it’s their home, a favorite toy, or even a person they regard as “theirs”.

Social Interaction: The social structure of the pack promotes co-operation, while play and social interaction helps the pack develop the co-operative hunting skills that are central to their survival.

It is quite easy to simulate this with your dog – just give him lots of play, walks and training. If you want a balanced dog you'll have to go further though, socializing him with a lot of other people and also with other dogs.

Pursuit: A wolf pack hunts by pursuing a prey animal until it is exhausted and easily subdued. Their instinct is to chase anything that moves away from them.

The same behavior can be seen in dogs when they run after a fleeing cat or a passing car.

Retreating: An injured animal in the wild has little chance of survival, so a wolf will usually back down rather than risk injury in a fight. Dogs likewise will usually rather flee than fight.

Vocalization: Wolves and dogs have similar vocal capabilities, but wolves are less inclined to use vocal signals for communication. This makes sense when you consider that sound may alert an enemy, or warn potential prey.

Dogs, on the other hand have spent thousands of years in the company of humans and have learned that we communicate mainly by voice. They therefore have no problem expressing themselves with a bark, a while or even a howl if the mood takes them.

There's plenty more about dog training, dog care, dog behavior and other helpful dog advice at http://www.dogsanddogtraining.com

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Bringing a new dog home is always a fun and exciting time, but there is also work to be done. There is shopping of course, setting up sleeping arrangements, training as well as the dreaded job of cleaning up puppy puddles.

In this article, we’ll discuss the five things you absolutely must dog to ensure that your dog is a happy and well-adjusted.

1. Crate Training

Hopefully you've done some forward planning and have already bought a crate before you bring your dog home. A dog crate is just about the most useful dog accessory you can buy. It can be used as a kennel, a carrier and a house training device.

You’ll want to get your puppy familiar with the crate from day one, and it should be your pup’s home in the early weeks. It will also come in handy later for potty training.

2. Vaccinations

It is extremely important to have your puppy vaccinated against common canine diseases. Many of these diseases are fatal to a young dog with an underdeveloped immune system, so follow your vet's recommendations.

3. Potty Training

A common piece of advice is to start house training right away, but normally this won't work. A puppy coming into a new environment where he is bewildered and frightened by his surroundings is hardly going to be open to learning.

For the first two weeks it will be much more effective for you to focus on crate training. As this relies on natural dog behavior it is much easier to achieve.

After two weeks the puppy will be settled into his new home and you can now begin potty training. Actually, if you started with crate training, as recommended, the puppy will have more-or-less house trained himself by now.

4. Socialization

Socializing your dog will reduce the likelihood of him becoming timid or aggressive. Allow him to meet a broad spectrum of people and animals both inside and outside the family. Just be sure to keep him leashed while introducing him to other animals. Puppies can be quite boisterous and he's likely to be bitten or scratched if he gets out of hand.

5. Bonding With Your Dog

If all of this sounds like hard work, it shouldn’t be, raising a puppy is fun. Take time to play with your puppy, as this is important to building a bond. As you play, gently correct any bad behavior, like biting.

Puppies can be a lot of work and responsibility, but they’re also a joy to have in your life. You’ll want to enjoy these early weeks and months you spend with your pup because, before you know it, he’ll be all grown up. And if you followed the suggestions above, chances are he’ll be a happy, well-adjusted adult.

To find out more about dog training tips, dog care, information on dogs and other helpful dog advice visit http://www.dogsanddogtraining.com

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It is therefore very important that dog owners are informed about the disease, how it is spread, what symptoms to look out for, and what to do if you suspect your dog has parvo.

CPV infects mainly puppies and younger dogs, as their immature immune systems make them an easy target. But that's not to say that adult dogs are not at risk. The disease is also more prevalent with certain breeds including, Labradors, Rottweilers and Dobermans.

Early symptoms of parvovirus infection include fever, lack of appetite, general lethargy, and a lack of interest in activities the dog usually enjoys. The dog may also start vomiting and develop chronic diarrhea which is usually yellow, with a particularly foul smell.

As the disease spreads it will cause severe dehydration and the dog may go into shock. The virus may also enter the heart, causing heart failure. It is not unknown for heart failure to occur months, even years, after the parvovirus infection.

The most common form of the disease is enteritis. This attacks the digestive system, damaging the lining of the stomach and intestines and making it impossible for the body to process nutrients and fluids. The dog will develop chronic diarrhea with blood in the stool and will inevitably die, if not treated.

Even dogs that survive CPV tend to be sickly throughout their lives.

There is no known cure for parvovirus, and the treatment is largely supportive, for example, giving the infected dog IV fluids to prevent dehydration. The vet may also administer an intravenous balanced electrolyte solution, while antibiotics are usually given to fight off secondary bacterial infection.

If the dog has severe symptoms, an antiserum may also be administered, while corticosteroids are usually given to dogs that are in shock.

One of the reasons that Parvo is so dangerous is that the virus is extremely resilient. It is transmitted through contact with the faeces of an infected dog, and can live in ground that was exposed to the faecal matter for up to as six months.

It withstands most household cleaners and commercial disinfectants, although undiluted chlorine bleach has prove to be effective in killing it.

It is vital that your puppy is vaccinated against parvovirus. Modern vaccines may not provide complete immunity but they do at least provide protection against most known strains.

You should also be very wary of allowing your puppy to interact with dogs you are not familiar with. In fact, you should not allow your puppy off your property until he has had his full set of shots. Better to be safe than sorry.

There's plenty more about parvovirus in dogs, dog care, dog care and other interesting dog info at dogsanddogtraining.com

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It was from that point that the breed acquired the name Australian Shepherd, having previously been known as the Spanish Shepherd, Pastor Dog, Bobtail, and the Blue Heeler.

These are extremely intelligent dogs who just love being around people, and make great pets for the right owner. Ideally that person will be someone who enjoys outdoor activities and is prepared to meet the dog's considerable exercise needs. As a working dog, the Aussie needs to be kept busy, and will almost certainly develop behavioral problems if he does not get enough physical and mental stimulation.

They have a strong herding instinct, and will have a go at herding everything and everyone they come into contact with – including your kids and the family cat!

Australian Shepherds are protective of their home and family and therefore tend to be cautious around strangers. This is sometimes interpreted as timidity, but the breed is actually quite confident and self-assured.

This is a dog with a real love of life. They want to be at the center of all activities and can be quite demanding of attention. The worst thing you can do to an Australian Shepherd is to ignore him, and if you are not prepared to give your dog lots of attention it may be wise to consider another breed.

But if you do have time to spend with your dog, you’re in for a real treat. The Aussie Shepherd is a dream to train. These dogs learn quickly and love to please. They excel at a myriad of dog sports, including fly ball, agility trials and advanced dog obedience training. Aussies are willing and capable students, and time spent training serves multiple purposes. It provides your dog with mental and physical stimulation, gives him a job and a purpose, and helps to build the bond between you.

For training, use a constructive, reward-based training method, like clicker training, and you’ll be rewarded with a balanced, happy and fulfilled dog. Not only that, but you’ll be able to impress the pants off your friends and family with all the amazing tricks you can teach your Aussie to do!

The Australian Shepherd is a robust, healthy breed of dog. Nonetheless, there are some common health concerns with the breed including back, hip and eye problems. Epilepsy is also a concern. The average lifespan for the breed is twelve and a half years.

If you’re looking for a name for your Australian Shepherd, the best advice is to visit a puppy names, website. The one that I recommend is Puppy Names HQ, which has a huge database of excellent dog names including 1000s of female dog names.

Read more on Australian Shepherd Breed Info…

This is an admirable trend and one that should be encouraged, but it does raise some problems. Chief of these is that many of the dogs come with established behaviors and habits. Some are just difficult or stubborn, some have anxiety issues, others are outright aggressive.

Often this will result in the dog being taken back to the shelter, which is a pity because most dogs, regardless of age or temperament, are trainable if you employ a good method and put in the hours required.

But before you get down to training there are two ideas you need to get out of your head. Firstly, get rid of the notion that you should pity the dog.

Many of these dogs have suffered at the hands of humans, and many have stories that would stir all but the hardest heart. But your pity won't help them get over that. What will help is your patience love, care and understanding.

Dogs are quite willing to forgive and forget, so focus your energy instead on creating a stable environment, and providing consistent leadership and positive training.

The other misconception is that negative training methods are needed to control "difficult" dogs. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Outdated methods like choke chains and shock collars do not work. The are barbaric and no reputable trainer uses them. If someone even suggests them to you, just walk away.

These methods are possibly the worse thing you can do with an aggressive dog. Effectively what you're doing is approaching an already aggressive animal with violence, and that my friend, is just asking to be bitten. So don't ever use violent training methods with any dog.

How then, should you approach training an older dog? Well, for starters, appreciate that dogs are receptive to learning at any age. Start with the basics – crate training, and house training (if needed), then move on to basic obedience work. Above all keep it positive and reward-based.

Be patient and diligent and remember that training an older dog, with established behavioral patterns, is different to training a pliable puppy.

Also bear in mind that not all dogs are as easy to train as others. Many factors come into play, such as breed, age and state of health. With an adopted dog there is also the issue of an unknown past life which may have left the dog traumatized and fearful.

Proceed slowly with patience and persistence and you will succeed. If you doubt that, look up Frank Inn on Wikipedia. This famous Hollywood dog trainer found almost all of his canine movie stars at dog shelters.

If you want to learn more about dog obedience training, dog care, puppy care and other interesting dog advice pay a visit to www.dogsanddogtraining.com

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Hailing, originally from Scotland, the Cairn was bred to control rodents and to hunt foxes. The name comes from "cairn", which is a narrow space between two boulders. These dogs were small enough, and brave enough to pursue a fox or other quarry through these gaps. The Cairn is an old breed, and has been around since the 1500s.

Standing just 10 to 13 inches at the withers, and weighing just 18 pounds, the Cairn Terrier is a strong, compact little dog. The face is sharp and fox-like, and the ears small an erect. The coat can be brindle, cream, gray, red, sandy, or wheaten, and is rough and shaggy.

These dogs make excellent family pets and are an absolute joy to have around. They are playful, friendly and outgoing, and do well with older children and with other dogs. You will, though, have to watch them with younger kids as they do not respond well to rough treatment. And you should also supervise them around non-canine pets, especially rodents.

Cairns are very clever dogs. They are generally easy to train and enjoy learning to perform tricks. They are sensitive though, so you'll need to focus on positive reward-based methods if you want to see results. The females tend to be more independent than the males and are therefore slightly more of a challenge to train.

This is a very agile breed and this, coupled with their intelligence, makes them very good at many canine sports. They excel at agility, flyball and advanced obedience trials.

With an average lifespan of between 12 and 15 years, the Cairn is a healthy, robust dog. However, they are not immune to genetic diseases and are known to suffer from progressive retinal atrophy, cataracts, hypothyroidism, and entropion. These dogs are also very sensitive to flea bites, so you'll need to take steps to control these pests.

Grooming is a fairly easy job. The Cairn sheds very little, and only needs to be brushed a few times a week to keep the coat in good order. Brushing should be done gently as they have quite sensitive skin. The dog can be bathed if need be, but don't do this too often – one a month is more than enough.

Because of their small size, Cairns can live most anywhere and do well in an apartment. They are however, highly active dogs requiring daily exercise. This should include a walk plus games, as Cairns love to play and are particularly fond of chasing a ball.

If you’re searching for puppy names, for your Cairn Terrier, I recommend puppy-names-hq.com. This site has 1000’s of excellent dog names, including a huge list of cool dog names choose from.

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The origins of the breed can be traced back to the 18th century. The breed was created by crossing the Curly Coated Retriever and the Irish Water Spaniel. This produced an outstanding all-round hunting dog that can flush game, and retrieve in a wide variety of terrains. The American Water Spaniel is officially recognized as the state dog of Wisconsin.

These dogs have a cheerful, outgoing personality and are extremely eager to please making them excellent pets. They are good with children and get on well with other dogs and non canine pets. As working dogs they require a great deal of activity and preferably a job to do.

The American Water Spaniel will definitely benefit from obedience training, early socialization and consistent leadership. Socialization is particularly important to avoid the dog becoming either timid or aggressive.

Training needs to be consistent, positive and reward based. These are quite sensitive dogs and they do not respond well to harsh treatment. On the other hand, this is a dog that loves attention and is eager to please. Use these traits to your advantage and training will be a breeze as these dogs are highly intelligent.

Bear in mind the impact dog names can have on your training results. If in doubt, visit puppy names hq.com, a site that offers solid advice plus thousands of categorized boy dog names and girl dog names.

This is a very healthy dog breed that can live 15 years or longer. The American Water Spaniel suffers from few of the dread diseases that afflict other purebred dogs. However, the breed may be susceptible to a number of less serious problems including cataracts, progressive retinal atrophy, hypothyroidism, epilepsy, and skin problems.

Grooming does take a bit of work, but is not really that difficult. Simply brush the coat twice a week or so to keep it looking its best. Be sure to remove all mats and tangles and also to check the dog for ticks if it spends time in the field. The American Water Spaniel gives off a distinctive “doggy odor”, but don’t be tempted to bath the dog too often as this destroys the natural oils and can cause dry skin.

It should be obvious that such an energetic dog should not be kept in an apartment. If you have a house with a medium / large garden you should be okay, provide you take the dog out for a long walk each and every day.

If you’re looking for puppy names, for your American Water Spaniel, I’d recommend Puppy Names HQ, a site with an extensive database of dog names, including thousands of girl dog names.

Read more on Breed Spotlight American Water Spaniel…

For starters, these dogs are often used in search and rescue work, scenes of natural disasters, and even to find lost children. And, they are also also surprisingly good as pets.

Sometimes called the St. Hubert Hound, the Bloodhound is an ancient dog breed, which originated in Belgium and was brought to England by the Normans in 1066. The name of the breed derives from the fact that, even back then, great lengths that were taken to ensure that the breed strain remained clear. As a result they were referred to as “blooded” hounds.

Bloodhounds are large dogs, weighing as much as 110 pounds and reaching between 23 and 27 inches tall at the withers. They have a beautiful smooth coat, with characteristic skin folds, and long, hanging ears.

Another endearing feature of these dogs is their sad, droopy, 'hang dog' facial expression. Three coat colors are acceptable under the breed standard – black and tan, liver and tan. and red.

These gentle, affectionate hound dogs have character and personality to spare. They are extremely loyal and are known to mourn the loss of a human or canine companion.

Despite their somewhat serious expression, Bloodhounds can actually be quite playful, and their gentle nature, makes them excellent with children. They are also very sensitive, and harsh words or treatment will definitely hurt their feelings.

In common with most other hounds, a Bloodhound can be a handful to train. It’s not that they lack intelligence, quite the opposite, but they are independent thinkers, and easily distracted by the goings on around them.

The Bloodhound is a dog that was simply born to track. These dogs are simply unable to resist any interesting scent they encounter and for this reason it is imperative that they dog is not able to escape from your property. You should also never walk your Bloodhound off the leash. Not unless you want to spend your time chasing after him!

If you're thinking of adopting a Bloodhound, you'll need to be prepared for to do quite a bit of mopping up. Bloodhounds are droolers, and they also have a habit of leaving puddles behind whenever they drink. They are also one of the loudest snorers of the dog world!

Grooming is quite easy, but needs to be done regularly. The dog will require a brush own a few times a week, and daily during the shedding season. You will also have to keep the ears clean and dry and wipe the skin folds with a damp cloth, as both of these areas are prone to bacterial and fungal infections.

This is a healthy, robust breed that suffers from few of the problems typically found in purebred dogs. Problems that do occur, include gastric torsion (bloat), hip and elbow dysplasia, and inverted eyelids. The Bloodhound typically lives 10-12 years.

The easiest way to find good names for your Bloodhound is to visit an online dog names, resource, like puppy-names-hq.com. This site has tons of dog names, including 1000s of boy dog names to choose from.

Read more on Profile of the Bloodhound…

Use appropriate rewards and punishments when training your dog. For example, many dogs respond favorably when rewarded with a favorite treat for good behavior. At the same time, be aware that excessive punishment can backfire. Instead, use a consistent tone of voice or command word to indicate to your dog when a behavior is unacceptable.

Teach your puppy to ring a bell with his paw or nose when he needs to go outside and go to the restroom. Show your dog how to ring the bell before you take it outside. Or have him ring the bell and give it a treat. If you do this every time, you dog will always be able to tell you when it needs to go outside.

Your body language is an important tool that will help you as you begin training your dog. Even more than words, the way you act tells your dog a lot about what you want. Stop talking as much and start showing your animal what behaviors are important to you.

A great dog training tip is to always use your dog's name in a positive manner. By doing this, you will ensure a higher success rate of good behavior because your dog will associate its name with good behavior. Therefore, you should never use your dog's name in a negative manner.

A great tip for training your dog properly is to never reward your dog's bad behavior. If your dog is rewarded, it will think it has done something good, which will cause the dog to continuously repeat the bad behavior. Therefore, if your dog misbehaves, never give it a treat, a belly rub, or some other type of reward.

You should only leave your dog's food out for around fifteen minutes each day after you put it out. This helps get your dog used to a regular routine. Your dog will quickly learn to begin eating his or her food immediately, and as a result, your dog will eat fresher food and not beg for food at other times of the day.

Learn your dog's signals to help prevent accidents inside. Most dogs have a specific pattern of behavior indicating a need to eliminate. By learning this pattern, you can take your dog outside immediately, which teaches him appropriate behaviors. Being in tune with your dog's natural tendencies makes house training easier on both of you.

Paper train your dog. If your dog is left home for long periods of time, he will need a place to go to the bathroom. With this housebreaking method, accidents do not occur in other areas of the house, and the dog learns the proper place to do his business.

The way you train your dog depends on your own goals and your pet's temperament, of course. Certain methods and strategies can be effectively applied with any training program. If you choose the methods presented in this article that suit your needs and your canine companion's attitude, you will be able to get your dog jumping through hoops – maybe literally – in no time.

If you’re looking for dog names, for your dog, I’d recommend Puppy Names HQ, a site with an extensive database of dog names, including thousands of girl dog names.

Read more on Essential Tips You Must Know For Effective Dog Training…

The story goes that, in 1807, a British cargo ship was shipwrecked in Chesapeake Bay, Maryland. Among the rescued "cargo" was two Newfoundland puppies which the captain agreed to sell to local townsfolk. These dogs were then bred to local dogs, including Flat-coated, and Curly-coated retrievers, to eventually produce the Chesapeake.

Chessies are large dogs, standing up to 24 inches at the shoulder, and weighing up to 80 pounds. They are exceptional water retrievers with a physique and physiology perfectly suited to the job. They are powerful swimmers with a coat that offers protection from the elements. This coat is brown or reddish brown in color and consists of an oily outer coat and a dense, woolly undercoat.

The breed lacks the happy-go-lucky, outgoing personality of other retrievers, like Labradors or Goldens. Generally, they are loyal and protective of their immediate family, but reserved and alert around strangers.

They are also less eager-to-please than, say, a Lab, being naturally assertive and self-confident. As such, they are not really suitable for the first time dog owner and will do better with a firm, although not harsh, master.

They can do well as a family pet for an active family, but are better suited to older children, and will also have to be socialised with other pets.

The Chesapeake Bay Retriever is generally a sound breed, but it is prone to the diseases typically found in purebred dogs, including hip dysplasia, cataracts, progressive retinal atrophy, and Von Willebrand's Disease, a form of haemophilia.

They may also suffer from bloat, a dangerous condition that often results in death if not treated immediately. Feed your dog several small meals, instead of a single large meal, to reduce the risk. Median lifespan for the breed is 12 years.

The coat of the Chesapeake Bay Retriever has a unique oily texture, and requires minimal grooming. A brush once a week with a bristle brush is sufficient. These dogs have a distinctive doggy odor, but you should not be tempted to bath them too often as this can strip out the natural oils from the coat.

This is not the easiest dog to train. They are smart, but also strong-willed, which means they won't follow an instruction just because you say so. Strong leadership is very important if you want to succeed with training, but you'll also need to keep things positive and reward based to get results.

It should be obvious that this is not a dog that is suited to apartment living. The Chesapeake requires lots of activity, and preferably a job to do. They do best with an active outdoor person who is prepared to involve them in lots of activities. Daily walks are a must and swimming is a favorite activity.

If you’re stuck for puppy names, for your Chesapeake Bay Retriever , I’d recommend that you check out Puppy Names HQ, an online database that has thousands of excellent dog names including a huge list of boy dog names.

Read more on Chesapeake Bay Retriever Breed Profile…