Dog Training For Beginners

“How does your dog sit when you tell him to and mine doesn’t?", “How can your dog heel to you like that?", “Wow! He follows you when instructed" - now I'll bet this sounds like a familiar conversation between dog owners? If this is familiar, then why don't you start looking into learning the basics of dog training. It is critical to start training a dog from an early age. Doing this will ensure that you have the greatest influence on your dog's behaviour in the future.

The most basic of dog training is to get the dog to sit and come. Teaching him those commands are essential for him to learn. These commands are used for various different reasons, if you are in competition, if your dog jumps making him sit will immediately get him off and "come" is the all important one. If you take your dog for a walk, you let him off the leash and you expect him to come back to you, not run around the park with you chasing after him shouting at him to “get here right this instance”. That has to be just down right embarrassing!

Teaching your dog to come is largely a simple thing to achieve, just requiring much practice. One technique which is very simple for both owner and dog is to simply walk away from the dog with a toy in your hand. Then, when you are an appropriate distance away, call your dog back to you and reward him with a treat. Don't over-do this method though as the dog may become bored of it!

Now, getting your dog to sit is slighty tougher. When you have mastered the come command call him to you, place your hand on the end of his back and say "sit" while gently pushing down on his backside, when he sits his bottom down give him a treat and a lot of praise. A way to ensure he stays sat for longer is to feed him whilst he is sat.

Should you look into dog training you will find it to be largely extremely simple to learn and teach your dog. However, you should also bear in mind that it must be fun, especially for the dog. So try not to work on training your dog for hours each and ever day. Don’t forget to reward your dog and yourself for all the “hard” work though!!

Strategies For Training Your Dog

When you ask your dog to sit, does he or she look blankly at you? When you try to take him for a walk, does he resist? If the answer is "yes" then you need to learn some dog training techniques. Before you ask, dog training can also be fun and enjoyable for both you and the dog.

There is one canine training technique which I have tried and tested and it is great. It’s called the “Nothing in life is free” technique. It basically works on the fact that nothing is free, your dog has to do something to get something in return. For example if he wants food he has to remain seated until you make his dinner, or if you want to talk him for a walk then he has to lie down until you put his leash and collar on. This technique works as sooner or later your pet dog will understand that in order to get something he wants, he has to do something you want. What do you do if he doesn’t obey? Just walk away from him. Don’t shout at him or keep trying if he doesn’t listen just ignore him and walk away then about 5 minutes later go back and try again. He will get the message that you are the one in charge.

When dogs are born they usually have siblings and their mother is the “Leader of the pack”, when a young dog leaves his mother he starts to think that he is free and can do what he wants. When he first joins a family he starts to act dominant. He will want to be the leader. You can’t let him gain this position you'll want to show him through dog training techniques that humans are the head of your house not the dog. He doesn't have to be aggressive to get what he wants. Sometimes dogs use the sympathetic approach using their puppy dog eyes. It is of paramount importance that you never give in.

Your kids may just turn out to be your secret weapon in terms of training your dog, they are at relatively the same height and dogs see them more as friends because of this, always supervise your kids when they are around animals though.

Dog training can most importantly be fund for you and dog, so ensure it is!