Although dog barking can be a serious problem for those owners who live in apartments, teaching your dog to bark on your command is one of the coolest tricks you can teach him. I like to call this "Bark On Command." Here's how you can teach your dog to bark on your command:

Wait for a door bell or anything that may cause your dog to bark. The moment he starts to bark, say: "Speak, Speak ... , Good Boy (or Girl of course) , Good speak..." Repeat this for a couple of days and keep in mind that you will get the best result if this can be practiced a few times per day. You can even stimulate your dog to bark; for example if you know that he barks when the doorbell rings, use that as a stimulator and get him to bark and immediately say your magic sentence: Speak , Speak, ... One thing to remember is whenever your are praising your dog using your voice, the more excitement in your voice the better the results. Try to use a high pitched tone of voice.

Does your dog suffer from skin problems and/or scratch constantly? Does he have hot spots or recurring skin infections? He may suffer from dog food allergies. Food allergies can appear in dogs any time in their lifespan, from puppyhood to senior. There are certain food ingredients that tend to be problematic. Among them are dairy products, chicken and chicken eggs, soy, corn, wheat, and even beef.

There are many forms of dog aggression. The distinguished police dog trainer Ed Frawley of Leerburg Kennels names 16 forms in his training guides, accounting for everything from the dog’s gender, to their possessiveness, territoriality, dominance, or fear. The residential dog owner doesn’t necessarily need to be so academic, but they should always be able to recognize aggression and deal with it appropriately. Aggression is always one step away from a dog bite, which is itself one step away from a vet bill and a lawsuit.

The common signs of aggression are growling, snarling, barking, curled lips, lunging and an overall menacing posture, where the dog is tensed and ready to snap. (Note: there is also something known as a “submissive smile” exhibited by some dogs, whereby the animal actually shows its teeth as it approaches. I’ve seen this behavior confuse many owners, but it can be dismissed as such by the dog’s lowering its head as it “smiles,” and often wag its tail too). There are other indications, such as jumping or mounting, or even standing in your way that are much less of a problem and often go ignored when not accompanied by the other more severe signs.