Saturday, July 2, 2011

Puppy Training For A Happy Confident Dog

By Adriana Noton


It is understandable that people get so excited after they have introduced a bouncy young infant dog into the family home. These animals are our closest companions. They have evolved over thousands of years to look appealing to us and to create a sense of empathy. When we see them we want to respond with care and affection. Puppies bring pleasure and love and laughter to a home, but they come complete with a lot of responsibilities. They need to be cared for appropriately and this begins from the moment they arrive. It is therefore important that all the implications are considered before purchasing a puppy, as they will change the life of the family beyond recognition. Puppy training is one of the first tasks that the new dog owner will have to undertake. This can be done independently or with the support of a training class.

Sadly, many puppies are still bought on a whim. This can be disastrous for the dog and the outcome can be sad for all involved. They often end up being given up on after a short period of time. Rescue centres are full of animals whose owner got bored with as they grew into adults. This is why it's important for prospective owners to be one hundred percent certain that they want a dog, and that they understand the breed of dog they are getting.

Breeds differ wildly. This was have implications for training. Terriers for instance are headstrong and wilful. A confrontational approach would be counter productive. While owners will be keen to begin training their new animal straight away it is important to remember that the dog will be extremely confused and stressed in its first days in the new home. It will also be seeking guidance and protection from a strong figure.

The first job of the owner is to gain the dog's attention. It sounds simple, and it is. This is done by engaging the dog. It should be talked to, its name should be used repeatedly. This ensures that the animal soon masters its own name. Once this has been learnt it's a lot easier to proceed with further training.

Consistency is the key. It may seem boring but repetition is the means by which the animal will learn what is required of it. Confused signals should be avoided. There are still some punishment based programmes promoted. Most dog welfare organisations are against these and research shows that reward based programmes are the best approach to take.

Other tricks and commands can soon follow after a dog has learnt its name. Regular training sessions are the best way to achieve this. Dogs can learn to stay, to sit, to fetch certain items and even to give a celebratory high five when its owner's team wins an important game. Dogs like mental stimulation and variety.

Too much training too soon can be detrimental to the dog's happiness. It can be tired and young dogs have short attention spans.

Ensuring that a dog becomes well balanced and socialised as a valued part of the family through puppies Toronto training is the owner's primary concern. This can lead to lots of fun, pleasure and a long relationship with the animal still regarded as man's best friend.




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