Dog Training with Electronic Collars

First, let's be clear what we mean by an "electronic collar." We are NOT talking about dog collars that deliver shocks to a dog. Those collars are not only cruel, but just about totally ineffective as well. No. The electronic dog training collar that is being discussed here features a little box that gives off loud and unpleasant sounds and is attached to the dog's collar. It is operated by a remote control box, which the pet owner carries in his hands while he is training his dog. There is no pain inflicted.

Electronic collars will not do the dog training for you. An electronic dog collar provides negative correction in the same way that a trainer might say "NO" when a dog doesn't obey a command.

Successful dog training consists of two parts. There is negative correction for wrong behavior, and there is positive reward for right behavior. You can't use one without the other if you want to successfully train a dog. Basically, a dog wants to please you. He wants to obey your command if he can figure out what action on his part is wanted when you say a word in a language that he doesn't speak.

Using electronic collars for training your dog is a choice that only you and your dog can make. If the dog does not respond well to your voice commands, then by all means invest in a good electronic training collar (NOT the kind that delivers shocks to the dog) and use it. If, on the other hand, your dog responds well to your verbal corrections, you just don't need an electronic dog training collar. Just remember than no piece of equipment can train your dog. Your dog's training is in your hands.

Milos Pesic is a certified dog trainer and owner of popular and comprehensive Dog Training [http://dog-training.need-to-know.net/] 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/]

How to Develop a Career As a Professional Dog Trainer

I named the voice in my car's GPS system Martin. I thought it was a suitably proper, British name for a voice that sounds remarkably real for being computer generated. At times, Martin provides me with a bit of amusement, such as when he says "At the roundabout, take the first right hand turning," or "If possible, make a u-turn. Oh Martin, you are so polite. If I was the voice in my car I might be tempted to say "You missed the turn again! Turn around, go back and follow my instructions." Luckily, I have far more skill and patience when teaching dogs and their people than when trying to navigate somewhere in my car.

Martin and I have had a generally good relationship. Although, not so much when I am lost and feel he isn't doing his part to get me on the right track. In the last year or so, I have started to feel that after five years together, Martin and I might be getting on each other's nerves. As a result, I suspect he occasionally chooses to purposefully provide me with inaccurate directions or at least a route that is far longer than necessary. But, if we were in couples therapy I suspect the counselor would point out that in the end, Martin always gets me where I want to go. Even if it takes a bit longer than I had hoped.

For example, I was recently headed to upstate New York to visit a friend. They had given me directions to their house, but I figured it would be safer for me to let Martin know where we needed to go and let him talk me through it rather than rely on having to look down at a piece of paper while trying to focus on the road. My friend told me the trip would take no more than an hour and a half. Martin sent me on a path that took just over two. Maybe he wanted to see some of the prettier side roads? I arrived at my friend's house in a huff and announced that I would be calling the dealer to find out if I could replace Martin with a new GPS system. I had visions of Daniel Craig's voice leading me on the fastest route to wherever I wanted to go.

My friend pointed out that I was being a wee bit impractical. Not only would a new GPS system probably cost far more than it was worth, but it is highly unlikely that 'Bond, James Bond' is looking for side jobs as the voice of a GPS system. She also suggested that I might try to follow my own advice. I was reluctant to offer any gesture that she might interpret as encouragement to elaborate. So, I pointed out how beautiful her house was looking now that all the trees and pretty flowers were blooming. My distraction ploy didn't work. After a brief pause, she said "Didn't we just chat yesterday about how people need to be willing to slow down and take their time when trying to become a professional dog trainer? Maybe you should do the same when trying to get somewhere?" All the greenery, the birds chirping, and the presence of a good friend had started to put me in a positive, reflective mood. Maybe she was on to something?

Of the many emails my dog training school receives each week, at least five to ten are from people asking for advice on how to become a professional dog trainer. Some are very specific, such as "I want to be a dog trainer on TV. Can you tell me how to do this?" Others are more general, such as "I have always loved dogs and would love to spend my time with them rather than behind a desk. Can you tell me what my options are?"

Many of these inquiries include a question about possible attendance at a school for trainers. While I am sure there are plenty of people who have benefited greatly from this, I do not generally encourage people to do so if they are expecting to leave the school ready to start their career by offering private lessons or group classes. Six to eight weeks of schooling, whether in person or especially if on-line, is, in my humble opinion, not an ideal option. Just as I wouldn't expect to acquire the necessary skills and experience to become a piano teacher, high school math teacher, or counselor by attending a course of this type, neither is it likely that a person hoping to help others learn to teach their dogs will acquire the necessary skill in this time frame.

While some aspects of training dogs does not require an enormous amount of experience (for example, teaching a puppy to sit), the reality is that most pet parents expect a trainer to be equipped to assist them with a myriad of issues. Many of which are best resolved by someone who has dealt with the issue previously and successfully and has a full trainer's toolbox (filled with loads of experience) with which to do so. A 6-8 week training course might be a start for one's education, but enrollment should probably not be based on a hope to finish the program ready to start a career without much further study.

If you do choose a program such as this as a foundation for the beginning of your education, be sure to carefully research the program prior to enrolling. Make sure the school is devoted to human methods and look for a program that offers coursework that includes (but, is not limited to the following); Learning Theory (classical and operant conditioning, shaping, desensitization and sensitization, positive and negative reinforcement, positive and negative punishment, motivations, generalization, and a history of training; Animal Behavior (development, genetic influences, body language, social and hormonal influences); Teaching Skills (screening, counseling and motivating clients, and designing courses and materials). While there are no formal requirements for dog trainers, if you are interested in certification consider contacting the Certification Council for Pet Dog Trainers (www.CCPDT.org).

Working with dogs and their people has a very long list of upsides. The most obvious being that you get to meet and interact with loads of dogs (I am still thinking about the little Bullmastiff pup named Shelby I met last week. So cute!). Another list topper is the feeling you get when you have a client who goes from being frustrated with and even angry at their dog to beaming proudly as they show off all the new skills you helped them teach their canine buddy. Sometimes all it takes is helping to teach their dog to offer an automatic sit to greet people so that he doesn't jump on visitors. Sometimes it is more challenging, such as helping someone teach their dog to be able to rest calmly and quietly when left alone so the angry letters from neighbors and the landlord cease, or helping someone to better manage a dog with aggression issues. But, in every case the goal is the same; Helping people help their dogs to live better quality and happier lives. It's no surprise we get so many email inquiries from people about how to become a dog trainer. Who wouldn't want a career helping dogs to be happier?

As wonderful as so many things about being a dog trainer are, before you decide to quite your current profession is is important to carefully consider some of the realities of a career as a professional dog trainer. Many people tell me they want to be a trainer because they don't like people so much and would rather spend their time with dogs. But, when a dog walks into a group class or a private lesson, there is usually a person or two at the other end of the leash. At a bare minimum, 50% of a dog trainer's interactions are going to be with people. Actually, more likely 80-90% of their time is spent teaching people. So, if you are interested in a career as a dog trainer in part as a way of avoiding people, I would suggest you instead consider a position as a night watch person or a lighthouse keeper. To be a dog trainer you have to enjoy interacting with people on a pretty consistent basis. You are essentially coaching people to guide their dogs towards better behavior. And I am here to tell you, it is generally a lot of fun. But, when people ask me "What's the most difficult type of animal you have worked with?" My answer is usually something like this: "Out of all the many different types of dogs, cats and other animals I have worked with, the most difficult is by far...the human animal!" So, if you enjoy people and all the challenges that working with them to accomplish a goal that they may at times feel is frustratingly out of their reach, then read on.

Another reality of becoming a dog trainer is the typical range of monetary compensation that you can expect. Most dog trainers, even the best, don't live in fancy apartments or houses and many have a full-time job outside of their animal related career. Dog training is something they make time for during evenings and weekends. This allows them to maintain a stable income and in some cases health benefits (something many full-time dog trainers do not have). Of course, this means they work many hours a week, juggling two professions. Most aspire for training to eventually be their sole, full-time career. But, for most, it takes many years to build a reputation and practice that can sustain them. I spent two years apprenticing without pay and another two after that building my own practice while working numerous other jobs.

Some of the people who have written to me over the years have become part of my training team at my school in New York City. For them and myself, the path of our careers has been a long one that includes years spent apprenticing, reading, attending seminars and workshops and time spent hoping for the day when our professional life could be all dogs and their people, all the time. To follow are some of the steps we took to get here:

• Attend Classes with Your Dog: Join as many as you can afford with as many instructors as possible. This way you get a sense of various teaching styles. Most importantly, it provides an opportunity to develop great hands on skills with your own dog.

• Read: Get your hands on as many books about training and animal behavior as you can. One of the first books I read on the topic, and the one that I credit with most inspiring me to teach dogs and their people as a profession, is Karen Pryor's Don't Shoot the Dog. Other authors I recommend are: Dr. Ian Dunbar, Jean Donaldson, Susan Garrett, Ken Ramirez, Kathy Sdao, Teoti Anderson, Gwen Bailey, Pam Dennison, and of course, my own books including Dog-Friendly Dog Training and Train Your Dog the Lazy Way.

• Attend Seminars and Workshops: There are loads of one day, weekend, and week long seminars offered throughout the year. Some of my best memories from the beginning of my career are the times spent at these sorts of events. In particular, I remember a John Rogerson seminar in California where the first day of the four day workshop was spent with him splitting us into groups and giving us problems to solve and tasks to accomplish. I suspect we would have learned a lot is we had been given the same challenges to do on our own. But, we learned a lot more than I had expected about group dynamics (great for people interested in teaching group classes) and how our behavior affects others. And to think it is all on tape somewhere.

• Volunteer: Volunteering at a local shelter or rescue group is a great way to be around dogs of a variety of sizes, ages, and temperaments. But, a word of caution: Do not apply to volunteer with the sole intent of adding to your experience. This is an endeavor that requires a serious commitment of time and energy for the main purpose of helping these groups care for the animals. Some, or much, of what yo umay be asked to do may be removed from being hands on with the animals (such as cleaning, envelope stuffing, assisting at adoption events, and answering phones). Regardless, it is a good thing to do all around.

• Join the APDT: Become a member and attend the Association of Pet Dog Trainers annual conference as there is no better place to meet and learn from so many of the foremost experts on animal behavior at one time. I attended the very first of these conferences many years ago and still rely on what I learned there and at subsequent conferences as a foundation for my approach to teaching. As a side benefit, you are sure to meet people who are similarly passionate about dogs and who may become lifelong friends and a source of ongoing support as you pursue your career.

• Foster: If you have the time, space and adequate dog experience, consider working with a local shelter or rescue group as a foster parent. You will be helping them to save the lives of more animals, and at the same time learning from each dog you care for.

• Apprentice: When I got my first dog as an adult I signed up for a puppy class before I brought him home. I can't remember what made me do something so wise, but it was one of the best decisions I have made. It resulted in me having a wonderful relationship with a mannerly, well-socialized dog, who became the love of my life. It also brought me an invitation to apprentice at the school. I suspect my obsessive completion of the weekly homework they handed out and my wide-eyed attention to every word they said in class might have given them the impression that I was very committed to learning about their profession. I apprenticed at the school for almost two years before they permitted me to teach private lessons and small group classes. Finding a school where you can apprentice means you will most probably spend many months watching as many classes as possible before you actually assist the instructor. From there, our apprentices may move on to teaching one exercise in a class, and then co-teaching with an experienced trainer. This sets a supportive foundation for gradual progression towards the ultimate goal of teaching classes on their own. Apprentices may also shadow a trainer on private lessons and progress in the same manner.

• Continuing Education: I am lucky to be friends with some of the most experienced and talented trainers around. Even they continue their education by learning from each dog and client they encounter, attending seminars and workshops and reading voraciously. So, plan on devoting time, energy and money to your ongoing education for years to come.

When I first started out as a dog trainer it was far from fashionable to have a career with animals. My response to the question "What do you do?" almost always resulted in something along the lines of an uncomfortable pause and then "Oh, a dog walker. That must be a good way to stay fit." Now, when people find out what I do, a more typical response is "Wow! That sounds like such a great job. I would love to do what you do!" The path to becoming a dog trainer can be a long one (I started almost 17 years ago), but I think Martin is right to sometimes take the slower, potentially more scenic route. I know for me it has brought me to a wonderful destination. My friend was right; If it takes a bit longer than expected to get where you want to go, just remember that as long as you end up where you want, it will be worth the trip.

Andrea is a Certified Pet Dog Trainer through the Certification Council for Pet Dog Trainers and a Certified Pet Partners Team evaluator for the Delta Society and the AKC's Canine Good Citizen (CGC) test. She is the director of Andrea Arden Dog Training, and was named the best dog trainer in New York by New York, W, Time Out and Quest magazines and the Daily News. Her website is located at http://www.andreaarden.com and she can be reached at 212-414-9597.

Personal Trainer Certification - Choosing the Right One For You

There are many organizations offering personal trainer certification in the health and fitness industry. Some of these certifications are legitimate and should be considered when determining which personal trainer certification to get but others aren't certifications that are worth the paper they are written on.

How do you know which personal trainer certification to choose?

#1 - Go for the best personal trainer certification not necessarily the easiest.
Choose a certifying organization for personal training that has a third party that reviews their exams. Recently, the personal training certifying bodies have used NCCA, an accrediting body of impartial experts who ensure that the certification of that organization has met stringent standards. This brings credibility to the organization and its certifications, research, events, etc. Not many organizations who certify personal trainers will have this professional "mark" of excellence but those that do, will definitely tell you about it.

#2 - Choose a personal trainer certification that encourages fitness assessments and proper medical and general history of the client during the client intake.

You want to know what you are getting yourself into when you train a client.

How do you know if the client has a heart history? How do you know how much stress the client is under from job, family, and other commitments? What about medications the client is taking - do you know how these will affect the client's training? How do you know what exercise recommendations you should make for a client that you haven't fitness assessed?
Organizations that don't teach personal trainers through their certification programs to ask for and get this information are basically "asking" you to train a potential "walking time bomb."

Who knows, in this day in age, what is truly going on with people in the general population internally. Even younger athletes who you might be training could be "on" something and/or susceptible to something (heart attacks).

You need to know this information through proper client intake procedures. The certification program should teach you this.

#3 - Select the personal trainer certification that requires continuing education hours.

This expectation gives credibility to the certification. The personal trainer should be continually learning more about how to train safely and effectively and to make programs individualized by using a variety of teaching techniques.

The certified personal trainer should learn information to give the client of a general non-medical nutritional nature and should be constantly educating him/herself in how to motivate and hold the client accountable.

This is the standard that a certified personal trainer should be held to.

#4 - What to watch out for.

Can you get a personal trainer certification off the internet in the next half hour? Sure. If it is something that is inexpensive and you can print the certificate immediately after paying with your credit card, you really don't want this personal trainer certification.

If you aren't required to study anything nor have any study materials to purchase in passing a personal trainer exam, you don't want this certification either.

Basically, if it is too good to be true, it is not a legitimate credential. These are the certification credentials that you ought to run from.

The health and fitness industry is huge and the opportunities for certified personal trainers are growing. Start out on the right footing. Get the best certification in the industry to set you apart using these tips as guidelines in choosing.

© Copyright 2008 Kim Fischer

Kim Fischer, owner of Empowered By Learning LLC, created the ACSM Certified Personal Trainer Exam Preparation workshop and accompanying Study Guide and Action Plan for Passing the ACSM Personal Trainer Certification Exam to support people in reaching their goal of becoming a certified personal trainer by the "gold standard" organization in the industry. Kim guarantees that workshop participants will pass the exam or their next workshop is free. Learn more about how to simplify and organize the process and the content for the ACSM Certified Personal Trainer Exam by getting a free excerpt of Kim's step-by-step Action Plan when you subscribe at http://www.empoweredbylearningllc.com

How To Remove Pet Urine - The Green Way

Anyone who owns a pet has experienced the problem of misplaced pet pee. How to remove pet urine is a common problem for all pet owners. For whatever reason your pet has peed on the carpet the end result is the same, a stinky carpet.

Dogs have a sense of smell many times stronger than humans, so unless you completely eliminate the offending odor, your dog may come back to the same spot many times. Even by eliminating the odor you still may have to face the problem again if your dog or cat has a territorial streak in them.

But there are many solutions for this problem of how to remove pet urine. Many natural cures to the pet pee problem come with disadvantages. Most home cures such as; baking soda, club soda or water and vinegar are messy affairs that may or may not work depending on the details of the stain. Other home remedies such as, bleach are just not earth friendly at all.

With the advance of eco friendly cleaning products you now have quick and easy choices that will remove pet urine while keeping the earth safe as well. As always check the ingredients to make sure your product is not hurting the environment. For example, any petroleum based product should be avoided for obvious reasons.

Also one of the ingredients in pet urine is ammonia, so any product using ammonia should also be avoided otherwise you may be encouraging your pet to re-offend in the same area you are trying to clean. An ammonia based product would certainly defeat your effort to remove pet urine smell.

The eco friendly to remove pet urine is a biodegradable product and preferably plant based in content. Even though a citrus or orange based product will leave a nice smell, it is important that it will also remove pet urine smell rather than just mask it.

Make sure to check the label to see if the product has earned a green seal of approval. If the product carries the Green Seal, GreenGuard or Fair Trade certification you can be sure that it is the real thing. Don't get greenwashed by false claims from non green manufacturers.

Pet pee stains are never much fun, but to remove pet urine doesn't have to be a odious task either. With the right eco friendly cleaner and a few minutes of your time you can clean up your pets mess at the same time you help out the planet.

Sick of your pet pee problem? Want to remove the urine smell and stain safely and naturally? Take advantage of Keith's decade long examination of all things green. Click here for more information on earth friendly, green cleaning ways to remove pet urine.

Where You Can Buy A German Shepherd Puppy

German Shepherds make excellent pets because they are athletic, energetic and bond well with their owners. Many know the German Shepherd breed because of their high trainability as a search and rescue dog or a police dog. When selecting between German Shepherd puppies for sale you should consider some health and breed standards. Before you purchase any puppy you will want to have an initial meeting with the puppy you are thinking buying. Observe how the puppy reacts to both your voice and touch. The puppy should be affectionate and eager to make friends.

Later in life some German Shepherds can have a tendency towards aggression. If you don't train your puppy early then you should at the very least choose one with a good temperament to start. You also want to inquire about any socialization training the dog has had. For German Shepherd's early socializing is extremely important and any methods the former owners use is crucial. It is important for the puppy to interact with other dogs and humans every day and early.

Next you should request to see both parents of the puppy if you are buying from a breeder. Carefully observe how the parents react to you as a stranger, make sure there are no signs of unwarranted aggression. The litter will inherit the temperament of the parents. For health reasons you should also make sure the parents move easily and unencumbered. Make sure you view the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals or OFA certification for the puppys' parents.

German Shepherds are prone to hip dysphasia and it is a predisposition that can be passed on to litters. So when considering German Shepherd puppies for sale you want to find out the rating the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals maintains on all registered canines based off the X-rays of the dog's bone structure. Any dog prone to hip dysphasia shouldn't be bred and you shouldn't purchase a dog from anyone who doesn't have Orthopedic Foundation for Animals certification for their dogs.

The next step is to carefully look over the appearance of your puppy. Your puppy should have eyes that are clear and alert, gums that are pink and healthy, and ears that are free of all foreign matter. The puppy should be playful but not overly energetic. When you are looking for German Shepherd puppies for sale it is also a good idea to consider the puppy's lineage. A breeder with the American Kennel Club will have family charts that not only show the puppy's parents but also the puppy's ancestors for several generations on both sides. The best breeders will be more than happy to show you this chart and may even provide you a copy for your own records.

Once you have purchased your puppy you should take them to a veterinarian right away in order to be de-wormed and get all their shots. To properly socialize your puppy with other dogs and humans you should take them on walks, have play dates with other dogs or friends and take them into pet stores with you when shopping if it is allowed.

Jan Ryan has written hundreds of articles on all things canine, including dozens about German Shepherd Dogs. The German Shepherd has a great personality, which is better than most humans. New dog owners should know basic German Shepherd information before bringing home a German Shepherd rescue dog.

Dog Grooming Business - Getting Started

Do you have a passion for animals? Have you always enjoyed looking after your dogs and cats? Have you often offered to house sit for friends and neighbors pets? Now, would you like to make money doing what you get so much pleasure doing? If the answer is yes, then a dog grooming business is just the thing for you.

If you are nervous, here are some tips and ideas to help you take that first step. First, you need to be aware that bathing cute pooches is not the only job dog grooming is all about. You will have to trim nails, clean ears, brush teeth, brush badly matted and tangled coats and cut and style coats.

To set up a dog grooming business you need to know about grooming and what it is all about. To gain this knowledge you will have to enroll in a pet grooming school - if you are groaning think about this, remember that any career you choose will require you to get a degree!

Pet grooming does not require you to get a degree but you do need to get certification. The training will not be centered only round pet grooming but will teach about planning to set up the business. It will address questions on the kind of location you should choose for your business and the type of equipments you will need from basic to advanced tools of the trade.

Some of the other things you will learn from your training will include calculating the overall cost of setting up a pet grooming business. This cost calculation will include license fees and business insurance costs as well. You will learn all about the requirements for your new business and how to select your target market.

You will need to have some basic knowledge of running a business and a short term management diploma can help greatly. No business has ever succeeded without a proper plan in place. You can get a lot of information of the internet by investing some time in research. For example you will learn how to put a business plan together. It should have a goal or several goals if you will and a definite plan or schedule detailing how you will reach your end goal(s).

Whether you choose to work in a salon, out of your home or from a mobile van, you need grit and determination combined with your love of dogs to succeed.

Find out How To Start a Dog Grooming Business FREE Step By Step Guide

Dog Grooming Business Equipment and Supplies List

There are many different types of equipment professional dog groomers use. There are things available to you to use that you might not have even knew existed. When you start up your dog grooming business, it is important to have, at the very least, the basic supplies and equipment. Once your business starts growing, you will then have the money to invest in more types of equipment and/or supplies.

The first set of grooming tools you will need are brushes and combs. A slicker brush helps remove mats and dead hair in the dogs coat. If there is a really tough tangle in the fur, you can also use a pin brush. The pin brush allows you to untangle a knot in the safest and least painful way. You will also need a medium and course wired metal comb.

Other types of dog tools you should have are a good pair of dog nail clippers. It is good two have two sizes of nail clippers, one for little dogs and one for larger dogs. If you only have one pair, the larger one should work on all types of dogs. It also would not hurt to have a small container of styptic powder, just in case you were to cut too far up the dogs nail.

All dog groomers should have cotton balls, Q-tips, dog shampoo and ear cleaner on hand. You should have many different types of dog shampoos for different types of situations. Some dogs have sensitive skin, extremely dry skin and/or fleas. They make a wide variety of shampoos for all of those purposes and more. Of course, one of the most useful items would be a dog dryer.

Lastly, you will need to have plenty of scissors and clippers in order to trim and style the dogs fur. If you are grooming a dog breed that has a lot of hair in the ears, it would help to have a pair of 5 inch straight hemostats to trim in the ears. You will need at least one pair of dog grooming clippers with different sized blades. There are two types of scissors that are needed. One type is a 6 inch straight dog grooming scissors and the other is a 6 inch curved dog grooming scissors. Thinning shears are used to thin and shape the coat, especially in sensitive areas.

The equipment and supplies listed above are just the basics that most dog groomers use. As your business grows, you will also be able to grow your supply inventory. It is wise to expand your equipment and supplies with your first few months of income, so that you can offer even more services and choices to your clients. It also gives your business more professional appeal.

Heather currently has a website dealing with dog grooming that includes an outline of the career with pros and cons with tips to grow your dog grooming business.

You can visit this website Dog Grooming Business for more information about this exciting career.

You can also visit Dog-Grooming-Business.Info to learn how to be a professional dog groomer.

Consumer Reports: Baby Monitors

There are two basic types of baby monitor: audio and video. Audio monitors operate within a selected radio frequency band to send sound from the baby's room to the receiver. Video monitors use a small wall- or table-mounted camera that transmits images to a TV-set-like monitor.

Still another way to keep tabs on baby is with movement sensors, under-the-mattress pads that alert you when his or her movement completely stops for more than 20 seconds. While some parents may find movement sensors reassuring, bear in mind that they're not medical devices and shouldn't be used in place of prescribed heart or breathing monitors to detect conditions such as sleep apnea. Nor should you rely on them to prevent sudden infant death syndrome, the cause of which is still unknown.

WHAT'S AVAILABLE

The major brands are BebeSounds/Unisar, Evenflo, First Years, Fisher-Price, Graco, Safety 1st , and SBC/Phillips.

Price Range: Baby monitors we tested ranged in price from $20 to $50 for audio monitors, up to $150 for audio/video monitors, and around $100 for movement sensors.

IMPORTANT FEATURES
A baby monitor's challenge is to transmit recognizable sound over a distance with minimal interference from other wireless devices. Here are some additional features to look for when buying a monitor:

Compact parent unit. The smallest parent units are about the size of a fat wallet. You can use the integral belt clip to free your hands, but the antenna may poke you.

Extra parent unit. This unit can stay in, say, your bedroom while the other is carried about the house.

Battery for the child unit. All of the child units we tested can be plugged into the wall for power, but four also can use either 9-volt, AAA, or AA alkaline batteries (not included). All the parent units have this option. The battery option is useful in the event of a power failure and also allows you to take the unit where there are no outlets, such as outdoors.

Rechargeable batteries included. This money-saving feature is provided with the parent unit of some models. You can buy rechargeable or alkaline batteries for the other parent units.

Low-battery indicator. A light or tone warns of the need to recharge or replace batteries in the parent unit. Some models also have indicators for the child unit.

The following features are nice but not necessary:

Intercom. Pushing a button and speaking into the parent unit lets you reassure your baby that you're on your way.

Video monitor. The Summer Infant monitor we tested has a video monitor, but its so-so picture quality limits its usefulness.

This feature works better in theory:

Finder feature. A model by The First Years promises to help you find a misplaced parent unit. Press a button on the child unit to make the parent unit beep. Unfortunately it doesn't work if the lost unit has been switched off.

HOW TO CHOOSE

Performance differences. More money gets you more extras, not necessarily greater safety and security for your child.

Recommendations. Test an audio baby monitor in the store to see how it fits in your hand and how it feels when you clip it on. Video monitors continue to be pretty pricey. If you buy one, you may discover that an audio monitor is all you really need. Also use the following tips and Consumer Reports' Ratings, available to ConsumerReports.org subscribers, to choose the best monitor for your needs.

Decide how much you want to monitor. The latest generation of baby monitors claims to allow the constant surveillance of baby's every whimper, breath, and movement. For some parents, that's reassuring. For others, such non-stop monitoring is nerve wracking. So keep in mind that a monitor isn't a must-have. If you live in a small house or apartment or feel as though you'd like a break when your baby's sleeping--which is legitimate--it's O.K. to go monitorless.

Consider your home and lifestyle. In many situations you may appreciate a monitor with sounds and lights so you can also "see" your baby's cries. If you'll be taking business calls during naptime, you may want to be able to turn the sound down very low and rely on the lights. A video monitor can also serve the same purpose, but it's very expensive and not very portable. Similarly, if you have a large house, you may want a monitor with two receivers rather than just one, although that can be a convenience in a small home as well. And, in general, look for monitors with features that make them easy to move about, such as a compact parent unit that clips onto your belt. (Try it on before buying, if possible; we found the antennas tend to poke the wearer.)

Choose between audio or audio/video. A good audio monitor will let you know whether your baby is awake or asleep, moving or stationary. Our tests showed only so-so picture quality from the one video monitor Consumer Reports rated. You can tell that your baby's eyes are open, for example, but you can't distinguish much detail.

Mind the frequency. None of the baby monitors Consumer Reports tested was immune from static. The closer your monitor's frequency is to that of another device the more likely you'll hear static or cross talk. You may reduce interference if your monitor lets you switch to a different channel within its frequency band, as do all the models Consumer Reports tested.

Consider your phone. Choose a monitor that operates in a different frequency band than your cordless phone. Most newer cordless phones are 2.4 gigahertz or 900 megahertz. If you have a 900 MHz cordless phone and a 900MHz monitor, they can interfere with each other.

Check the range. All the models Consumer Reports tested that claimed a signal-distance range met or exceeded it in our open-air test. Pick a model with an appropriate signal range for your home. Some home-construction materials, such as concrete and metal, can reduce the range, however.

Learn the return policy. Since you often can't test monitors before you buy them (there usually aren't display models available, and conditions in the store maybe very different from those in your home), learn the return policy of the store or Web site where you're buying or registering. You'll want to be able to take back a monitor in case you're unhappy with it for whatever reason. (Common problems include static and interference from cordless phones or answering machines, even the ambient sounds of an air conditioner or a neighbor's barking dog.)

Certification. Although as electrical products they're Underwriters Laboratories-listed, no specific certification program exists for these products. Of course, as equipment that generates, uses, and can radiate radio-frequency energy, baby monitors have to comply with Part 15 of the FCC rules within the US. That means that the device may not cause harmful interference and must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation. A few models, amounting to about one million units, have been recalled in the late 90s and again in 2003. Problems have included faulty wiring that could pose a smoke and fire hazard as well as batteries that can rupture and irritate the skin.

Copyright © 2002-2006 Consumers Union of U.S., Inc.

For the latest information on this and many other products and services, visit http://www.ConsumerReports.org

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