Dog Training Myths

Discover Quick and Easy Basic Training For Dogs

It’s always fun and exciting when you get a new puppy. They are cute and playful and it is often easy to forget that the cute little ball of fur will grow up to be an adult dog. But they will grow up and if you want them to be well behaved and obedient as an adult dog you need to start their training right away.

Housetraining is likely the most important training you need to complete and it is often given the most attention. However, in order to grow up to be a well-behaved adult dog you will also need to complete training on leash training, training to come, sit, stay and lie down. A well-behaved adult dog will be trained to do all of these also.

There are some consistent dog training rules that always work. All living things respond better to love and positive reinforcement than they will to criticism and negative reinforcement. Your dog will do whatever to please you and make you happy but if you offer him negative feedback he may develop fear and he will be less likely to respond to you and what you want.

So the idea is to reinforce the desirable behaviors with treats, affection, verbal praise and more. Verbal praise should be your most often used reinforcement. Praise your dog often but be intermittent about giving him treats. If you give treats every time, he will come to expect it and it can be bad for his health and weight, not to mention pricey for you.

Another thing is if you remember your high school science classes about classical conditioning and Pavlov’s dogs, intermittent reinforcement is more powerful at confirming the behavior than consistent reinforcement. When Pavlov’s dogs got the treats every time they were less likely to exhibit the desired behavior consistently, yet when they believe they might get a treat the behavior was more consistent and reinforced deeper.

As you are teaching your dog commands you should use hand signals along with the words. As he gets better at the task, use just one or the other. Pretty soon, he will respond to either and that can make things really easy in different situations.

As a minimum, you will need to teach your dog to come, sit, lie down and stay, along with leash training. There may also be some behavior training that you may want to take into consideration, especially if your dog is rather hyperactive and rambunctious. A well-trained dog is a well-behaved dog and everyone enjoys a well-behaved dog.

As you train your dog, the bond between the two of you will grow and it will be a pleasure to have him as part of your family for many years to come.