If you're about to embark on your first journey in dog ownership, you need to prepare yourself for the challenge of training. Not only will your dog be happier if he is well behaved, you will enjoy him more if he's not trashing your house and sabotaging your peace and quiet. You also need to consider what breed best suits your family. Not all dogs are good with young children and most of them need at least a moderate amount of daily exercise. Here are some tips to get you started when you're ready for training:
Carve out 15 minutes every day for training. If you work with your dog longer, he will get too tired to pay attention, if you work less, nothing you go over will be retained. Also, as a pack animal, a dog responds to only one leader − so choose one family member to take the lead. Once the dog has a good grasp of basic commands, other members of the family can expect the dog to follow their lead as well. The name you choose is another pointer that will help in training. Make sure it's not too complicated and then gently turn the dog's face toward you refer to him by name.
A good place to start is with crate training. You should be clear that dogs are den animals, therefore they love having a special place that is all their own. The crate is not for punishment. It's a good place to keep him while you are away from home until he is housebroken. Make sure the first crate you use isn't too roomy because dogs do not go to the bathroom in their den, so if the crate is small there shouldn't be a problem. Start with him inside for a few minutes and increase the time a little bit each session. You'll want him to sleep in his crate as well until he's fully trained. Keep the crate near the family, especially his trainer so he doesn't feel isolated or punished.
Leash training is another key component in creating a happy owner-dog relationship. If your particular dog needs a lot of exercise, daily walks will be a part of your life for many years to come. The last thing you want is for this time to be spent playing tug of war every time another dog comes within eye sight. Your dog should walk on the right side of your body, not way out in front of you. This way, he'll be easier to restrain as squirrels and other temptations come into play. If you are having trouble mastering proper dog-walking form, consider taking a local leash-training class. Your vet should be able to refer you to one in your area.
You'll want to teach your dog to respond to several voice commands, but the first you should master is "Stop!" There are many scenarios in which responding accordingly could spare you both some heartache. While it is fun to strengthen the bond with your dog by teaching him to shake, play dead and roll over those things can come in time.
Every 15 minute training session will strengthen the bond you are building with your dog. He'll come to trust that you have his best interest at heart and aim to please. Be sure to end each session by repeating something that he excels at so that you can positively reinforce what he is learning. Give lots of love and even a snack or two for a job well done.
Carve out 15 minutes every day for training. If you work with your dog longer, he will get too tired to pay attention, if you work less, nothing you go over will be retained. Also, as a pack animal, a dog responds to only one leader − so choose one family member to take the lead. Once the dog has a good grasp of basic commands, other members of the family can expect the dog to follow their lead as well. The name you choose is another pointer that will help in training. Make sure it's not too complicated and then gently turn the dog's face toward you refer to him by name.
A good place to start is with crate training. You should be clear that dogs are den animals, therefore they love having a special place that is all their own. The crate is not for punishment. It's a good place to keep him while you are away from home until he is housebroken. Make sure the first crate you use isn't too roomy because dogs do not go to the bathroom in their den, so if the crate is small there shouldn't be a problem. Start with him inside for a few minutes and increase the time a little bit each session. You'll want him to sleep in his crate as well until he's fully trained. Keep the crate near the family, especially his trainer so he doesn't feel isolated or punished.
Leash training is another key component in creating a happy owner-dog relationship. If your particular dog needs a lot of exercise, daily walks will be a part of your life for many years to come. The last thing you want is for this time to be spent playing tug of war every time another dog comes within eye sight. Your dog should walk on the right side of your body, not way out in front of you. This way, he'll be easier to restrain as squirrels and other temptations come into play. If you are having trouble mastering proper dog-walking form, consider taking a local leash-training class. Your vet should be able to refer you to one in your area.
You'll want to teach your dog to respond to several voice commands, but the first you should master is "Stop!" There are many scenarios in which responding accordingly could spare you both some heartache. While it is fun to strengthen the bond with your dog by teaching him to shake, play dead and roll over those things can come in time.
Every 15 minute training session will strengthen the bond you are building with your dog. He'll come to trust that you have his best interest at heart and aim to please. Be sure to end each session by repeating something that he excels at so that you can positively reinforce what he is learning. Give lots of love and even a snack or two for a job well done.
About the Author:
Julie Clark Robinson has written articles on dozen of subjects. Among the education related subjects she has written on are online education and California colleges and universities.
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