It is important that anyone who is thinking about becoming the owner of a Pit Bull learn about the breed before making the final decision. Pit Bulls need owners that can provide them with lots of love and attention, and keep doing it forever. They need to be trained well in order for them to make a great pet. Pit Bulls have a lot of energy and can be very headstrong, but with the proper training learn to deal with this and become very loving, devoted pets to their owners. One thing that makes training Pit Bulls easier is that in general, they are a highly intelligent breed of dog, and tend to catch on quick.

When training your Pit Bull, it is important to remember that they can be very stubborn and hard to deal with at times. You have to keep in mind that your Pit Bull has a mind of its own, and that it may not always behave as you would like him to. Owners have to be patient when this happens, and try very get annoyed with their pet. Training tends to go smoother when started at an early age, many recommend beginning when the puppy is around eight weeks old for best results. At any age, you will have better results if you make training fun, and keep a positive attitude toward your pet.

You should make socialization a big part of your daily training routine. This helps the Pit Bull learn to control his aggression when around people and other dogs. If you can sign your Pit Bull up for training classes, he will also get socialization with other dogs while he is learning other things.

Expect a battle for supremacy with your pit at around thirteen to sixteen weeks of age. He will start to see how far he can push you, and will really start pushing his limits to see how far he can go. This is the time that he may also begin to try to bite or nibble on you during play. It is very important that you assert that you are the owner during this time, so that he knows who is boss and learns to respect that.

When owners devote time and effort into properly training their pits, in the end they will have very friendly dogs that love their family very much. Pit Bulls love to be around people and be the center of attention, and with the right owners are great pets. Just remember that when training you pit, it is necessary to be strong and stay consistent.

To learn all about raising an American Pitbull Terrier and training Pitbulls, visit http://www.pitbullsrevealed.com/ today.

“I am the Sun’s son.
I sit upon a turquoise horse
At the
opening of the sky”
Navajo Horse Song

In Shamanism there is much importance given to animals as
guides, totems and helpers. This is more than just having a
favorite animal or being attracted to butterflies. Animals have
been used as a source of diagnosis in healing and counseling by
Shamans all around the world throughout recorded history.

Each animal has its own nature, its own traits and is a
representation of a power such as strength for the lion or speed
for the jaguar. By learning about animal strengths or powers a
Shaman comes to understand why people are attracted to certain
favorite animals and repulsed by others. These attractions and
repulsions actually become a tool that tells the Shaman what is
needed or missing in a person’s life.

There was a woman who no matter how she tried, kept missing the
boat, missing out on opportunities that would have brought her
the abundance and connections she needed to succeed. In
hindsight she could see every instance in which she had failed
to recognize the chance to get ahead. It was very frustrating
for her but she could not find a way to break out of this rut.

When asked what animal she most feared she related an experience
she had as a child with a horse. She was introduced to a
friend’s horse that was very high spirited and when she reached
out her little hand the horse bit it causing much trauma for the
child and a lot of consternation for the mother. But since that
time, the horse had represented fear for this woman.

Yet if we look at the power of the horse it is a prey animal.
That means it is usually a source of food for some other animal.
So it is keenly aware of what is going on around it at all
times. One quick move, one strange sound and the horse will perk
up its ears and be on the alert for what is happening, ready to
run if it feels any danger. Horses also watch out for one
another and if one horse senses danger the whole herd is willing
to move as one, away from apparent threat.

So examining this woman from a Shamanic perspective we see that
she is not aware of what is around her and she is afraid of the
power represented by the horse that would be keenly aware of her
situation at all times. By dealing with her fear of horses we
can allow her once again to become aware of her surroundings, to
prick her ears up and take full advantage of opportunities
around her.

In the same regard we can use those animals we are most
attracted to for observations about powers we have or would like
to have. Recently a student became interested in developing her
spiritual gifts and stated that she was attracted to the snake.
Certainly it is an unusual animal to attract the favor of a
woman! She just seemed to think about the snake more often than
any other animal and it had only been this way for the past year
or so.

When we look at the snake we see it represents the power of
transformation. The snake can shed its skin and recreate itself
within a short time. It has always been a symbol of power and
has even been regarded as the mother of all life. The life
energy called kundalini is often described as a snake rising up
the spinal column to bring enlightenment.

So for this woman the snake was showing her that, yes, it is
time to begin developing her healing abilities and taking charge
of her own power to help others. As she progresses, other
animals will become her favorites and those too will have
significance in her own life.

It is said that we carry 12 totem animals in our lives. Usually
there are four animals that stay with us constantly and they
represent the powers that are inherent in our Spirit before, now
and after, eternally. The other eight totems represent life
changing events or growth cycles as we move along this path of
life learning and practicing what we have learned. If you pay
attention to the animals you most like or don’t like you can
learn many things about your true desires and how to attain
them. Visit HREF="http://www.shamanelder.com" rel="nofollow">www.shamanelder.com for
more information.

One of the most positive and prevalent traits you can expect
from your Havanese is companionship and devotion. A Havanese can
live in a small apartment setting with ease. They don’t require
the amount of space or exercise requirements that larger dogs
require. Therefore, in many ways a Havanese dog is very easy to
care for.

Various dog breeds are prone to many common health ailments and
diseases. The great thing about the Havanese breed is that it
has relatively few genetic diseases in its history. This is a
welcome note to any Havanese owner or anyone that is interested
in finding their own wonderful Havanese dog.

The genetic problems of the Havanese include autoimmune skin
conditions, cataracts and progressive retina atrophy.

I must stress, however, that it is still important to maintain
quality preventative care through vaccinations, heart worm
pills, and flea & tick medications. These preventative health
measures are necessary for virtually every breed of dog.

A Havanese has a typical life span of around 16-18 years.

Personality Of The Havanese

This is probably the one burning question that many potential
Havanese owners ask. What is their personality like? Well let me
go through that for you right now:

1. Temperament

The temperament of a Havanese is playful and alert. The Havanese
breed is brave even though they are smaller then most other
dogs. This courage helps them to be a great watch dog. They are
devoted to their family.

The Havanese breed is good with children. The key is to treat
the Havanese like a companion and not a toy. Remember they are
not a fragile doll and can play and romp with the best of them.
Their playful attitude and active nature make them great friends
for walks, swimming, and playing in the yard. The Havanese tends
to be an indoor dog, but they need exercise as well.

The Havanese makes a great house pet and work well with kids. It
is critical to teach your children to respect your Havanese and
create a loving relationship.

2. Toy Breed

The Havanese breed is a member of the Toy group as classified by
the American Kennel Club. The toy breed is small in stature
which makes them wonderful apartment and house dogs. The
Havanese can be a great choice for someone that lives in the
city.

3. Exercise Requirements

A Havanese dog loves to curl up on the couch with you. However,
they do also like to take a walk. In fact, walking should be
part of their exercise plan. A Havanese will often be ready to
play, but at times will want you to carry them during the walk.
This can be tempting, especially because they are so cute!

Don’t carry them. This will only spoil them. They need the
exercise or they will become restless and irritable. A restless,
bored, and irritable dog is prone to behavioral problems.

Exercise and play not only keeps your dog physically fit, but it
promotes their mental health as well. Keep your Havanese happy
and healthy with games, walks, and a good belly rub.

4. Great Family Dog

A Havanese can make a wonderful family dog. This breed is good
with children if you train and socialize them properly. They
have an innate need to watch over their family. They may not be
able to attack an intruder, but they can let you know with a
bark that an intruder is present.

If you would like to learn more about the Havanese Breed, visit
http://www.havanese-puppy-guide.com

Fiona

I noticed the other day, while working with a new German Shepherd dog-mix I adopted from a local animal shelter–how fast and intense you must work with your dog, during the “reinforcement” phase.

Your dog goes through three general phases of learning:

1. “The Learning phase”: This is when the dog learns to understand what a command means. You use very little correction at this phase, and may use toys, balls or food to motivate (not bribe!) the dog into doing and understanding what the command means. The problem with most amateur dog trainers is that they feel their dog is trained, once he understands a command and has gone through the “Learning Phase.”

2. “The Reinforcement phase”: Once the dog has learned what the command means, he needs to be “re- taught” the command in a variety of different settings. Because he’ll likely only associate response to the command in the initial setting you’ve trained him in, he needs to “relearn” the command in different types of areas. This happens very quickly. It usually only takes one or two repetitions, and then it “clicks” for the dog. Once you see that it’s “clicked for the dog,” this is when you need to start working very fast, exciting and BRIEF sessions. Your goal is to get the dog to respond to commands very quickly. IF you’re working on the “down” command, then the dog should drop into the down position very quickly–AND THEN IMMEDIATELY GIVE HIM YOUR “RELEASE COMMAND!” Run 5 or 10 steps with the dog, then reissue the command. When you give him the release command, toss a ball, or a piece of food. You should be aiming to teach the dog that training is a big, fun game. A game that he has to respect. But nonetheless, a game the he loves and looks forward to playing with you–in any environment.

Here’s where most new trainers fail: They don’t work the dog fast enough. You need to make your body language fast and exciting to the dog. IF you’re not sweating and huffing and puffing after 5-10 minutes… then you’re not being animated enough. For fastest results, work the dog like this for 3-4 sessions a day and you’ll see dramatic improvement.

3. “The Proofing Phase”: This phase teaches the dog that 100% reliability in every type of environment is absolutely imperative. Make sure your proof your dog in every type of environment that you can imagine. Practice in parks, in field and in parking lots. Practice around other dogs, and cats. And even chickens and goats. One you’ve “proofed” your dog, you can relax in knowing that you can pretty much take your dog anywhere and know that hell listen.
About the Author

Adam G. Katz is the author of the book, “Secrets of a Professional Dog Trainer: An Insider’s Guide To The Most Jealously Guarded Dog Training Secrets In History.” Get a free copy of his report “Games To Play With Your Dog” when you sign up for his free weekly dog training tips e-zine at: http://www.dogproblems.com