Saturday, April 28, 2012

Dog Teaching Essentials For Newbies

By Becky Erickson


When giving commands to your dog, never come down to their level. Maintaining eye contact and a fully erect, dominant stance imparts control to the dog. Your dog will be receptive to commands given from this posture much easier than a crouching owner who is seen as an equal or playmate.

Training a dog is easier if the pet is neutered or spayed. Unless you are breeding the animal, taking the hormones out of the equation will greatly calm your pet. Without the constant rush of hormones, a dog is much more docile and receptive to a leader. This will also help control the pet population which is a win-win situation.

One of the first things most people teach their dogs is the sit command. This is very basic but is handy for your dog to know, especially when you want to get his attention. One way to teach your dog to sit is to take a piece of dog treat and hold it about six inches from his nose. Slowly raise the treat straight up and say "Fido, sit". You may have to use your hand to help him into the position until he realizes what you want.

Socialization skills are an important part of a well-rounded training program for any canine companion. Learning to get along with adults, children and other pets makes for a happy dog that is welcome in his surroundings. Socializing your dog is easy and can be incorporated into your daily activities. An evening dog walk, trip to the park or visit to the pet store can provide a great opportunity to expose your dog to short interactions with neighbors and their pets, while getting much needed exercise and bonding time with you.

Put yourself in your dog's proverbial shoes - or paws, rather. It is easy to get frustrated with your dog if they are not learning very basic things quickly or at all. Instead of giving up entirely, you might consider trying to put yourself in your dog's mindset. Imagining the world as they see it might give you a new perspective on training them.

Make sure to keep your dog training sessions brief. Animals become bored quickly and are less likely to respond if they are not engaged in what you are doing. Aim for working with your pet three times a day for approximately five minutes at a time. This will leave them wanting more and will make your overall program more successful.

Housebreaking a dog takes time. The key is to be consistent when teaching him where it's not acceptable for him to relieve himself and consistent in the message that you send as to where you expect him to go. This may be on a pad inside the house, on a lead when you take him outside or running free in a fenced yard.

Dogs often become destructive because they are bored and lonely. Consider a house dog that destroys the sofa while you are away from the house. Consider the larger outside dog that chews up the shrubbery. The answer to alleviating their destructive behavior might be as simple as spending more time with them or buying them a new toy.

If you don't have the time, money or inclination to take your naughty dog to a professional trainer, you can obedience train your pooch at home to turn him into a well-behaved family member by following a few simple tips. Within a matter of weeks, your dog should be able to "sit,"? "stay,"? and "come"? on demand. Some dogs learn at faster rates than others, but prepare yourself to be patient. Use positive reinforcement in the form of praise and treats to reward your dog each time he listens. If he makes a mistake, correct him in a firm voice without yelling. Limit your training to a few short sessions per day, approximately 10 minutes each. Make sure you are in a quiet room or yard with no distractions. Be consistent with your hand signals and verbal instructions. Once your dog has mastered these simple commands, it's time to train him how to fetch your slippers and bring you breakfast in bed!

When training your dog, it is imperative that you remain patient at all times. Moving too quickly or losing your temper can confuse your dog and cause him to mistrust you. Without proper trust, your dog will never fully submit to your training and your relationship with your dog will surely suffer.




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