Which is the right training program for your dog?

Any search of the web will reveal a multitude of different courses, ideas, concepts, videos, and programs aimed at obedience training for young and old dogs. Many are cutting edge and some are out of date and no longer accepted by experts as being the right way to do things.. How do you go about finding one that is right for training teaching your dog?

For many dog owners there are some very basic reasons for wanting to mold the behavior of their pet. A dog without some basic dog obedience training can be like that annoying uncle in the family who has none of the social graces, always loud and obnoxious, makes a mess of the house, always adding his opinions into other peoples business – you know the sort. You still like him but you just wish he wasn’t there so often.

Well, you should always want to be around your dog. Isn’t that why you introduced him into your home in the first place, to be your faithful friend and companion? This will happen when you find a reciprocal level of respect and understanding. This in turn grows out of discovering the right way to communicate with your dog  to make sure he fully understands what the rules are and what you expect from him or her.

Common to all good dog obedience programs should be the understanding and acceptance of the following basic principles, though they may be explained slightly differently:

* It’s essential to understand that dogs are pack animals and are much happier when there is clearly defined leadership and they know what is expected of them. This is important for you to understand how a dog’s mind works.

* It is your job to be the pack leader – consistently, repetitiously, persistently, and patiently.

* Tied in with patience is the tone of voice you use. Commands should be given firmly with no ambiguity, but with patience and with no shouting. Your dog must not be confused once he knows what it is you want him to do. There can be no refusal or ignoring of your commands.

* Rewards and corrective actions are also important concepts in any dog training or obedience course. Rewards should be in the form of praise a treat, or a ‘click’ (clicker training) while corrective action could be in the form of holding back praise, treats, a scratch, or a firm ‘No.’

It’s always good to start with the basics. Look for a program that starts with these fundamental concepts and commands:

The Come or Come Here  command is very important for control of your pet. Nobody wants a dog that ignores them nor do you want to have to mount a search party every time he is outside and off his lead.

Stand and Stay, Sit and Stay, and Down and Stay commands are very helpful especially in situations where there are groups of people and activities where your dog needs to be kept away or out from underfoot.

Walking on and off lead, sometimes called ‘heeling’ is very important training as there is nothing more unpleasant then having an uncontrollable dog pulling and tugging on the leash and lunging at other dogs, animals, and people.

In addition to these basic commands many methods will include turns, fetch and carry, back up, crawl, shake hands, catch, climb ladders etc., and all of these with hand commands as well as verbal commands.

Other behaviors or problems that will be dealt with in a well organised dog training for obedience program are house training, excessive barking, biting and nipping, chewing, digging up the yard, aggression, and jumping up on people and furniture. There may also be some discussion of the best dog obedience training equipment to use.

This is a basic idea of the things to look for in a reputable dog obedience training program. Of course a good method and system for training are key to the welfare and safety of your pet, but also to your peace of mind and enjoyment of your canine companion.

 

New Dog Training No Comments December 4th, 2009

New dog training, obedience training, and toilet training can be difficult,  but can also be very rewarding.

Nobody enjoys coming downstairs first thing in the morning to find that your new dog has left a little (or large!) calling card on the living room floor or in the kitchen.

And don’t forget it is not just puppies or dogs newly introduced to a household that can have problems with toilet training. Adult dogs who have lived with you for several years can also develop problems, or keep the bad habbits from when they are young.

Dog toilet training can be something you may have to do with any dog of any age, some dogs just don’t learn as quickly as others or have other underlying problems that you need to identify. You need to become the dog trainer for your own dog.

Find the  best way to toilet train YOUR new dog

How to identify the best way to toilet train YOUR dog, or discover any underlying problems that he may have, can be very tricky. Many of the popular stories of how to punish dogs for fouling, or shouting to show displeasure, are just plain wrong. Toilet training for your dog is something you need to learn how to do in a more effective manner.

I have had many dogs over the years, and faced different challenges with each one of them. I spent lots of money and time toilet training and obedience training my dogs, I used dog training aids, obedience collars, I joined a dog training club, and still didn’t get everything right with most of them.

Now, with my current dog, I have ironed out the problems and have a happy and well trained dog as part of my family. I did this by following advice that I wish I had found many years ago! This has been the first time I have properly understood the dog mentality and this makes training so much easier.

Get your new dog training right and you and your dog will be much happier. Grab a copy of the information I used from the link below.

Click here for full new dog training details

New Dog Training No Comments October 27th, 2009