Some Easy Ways To Start Dog Training
A well trained dog is like a well-behaved child. They are wonderful! The same applies the other way round ‘ an untrained dog is like a disobedient child. They can cause havoc! That’s why it is important for every dog owner to do some simple dog training.
Every dog can be trained, despite the fact that many believe that some dogs are beyond training. Sure, some dogs are harder to train because they may have deep-rooted bad habits, while other dogs take to training like a fish to water. In actual fact, it depends on how good the trainer is.
A dog that is trained will be happy, relaxed and secure. All dogs instinctively like to follow commands, and they will always turn to one person as their leader. This is how they behaved when they used to live and hunt in packs. One dog was always the leader, or the ‘alpha’. You will need to take on this role with your dog.
Teaching your dog his or her name is the first thing to do. This will enable you to get a response from the dog every time you call its name. This forms the basis to all other dog training lessons.
The first important command is ‘come’. Hold a small treat near the nose and firmly call its name, for example ‘Fluffy, come!’ The puppy will immediately come forward to get the treat. Continue the process by stepping a bit further back each time. When the dog responds and comes to you, lavish it with lots of praise and affection.
You can apply the same principle with the ’sit’ and ’stay’ commands. Keep your voice firm at all times so the dog learns the different tones to your voice. They quickly realize when your voice is playful or when it is serious. The praise factor is critical because essentially all a dog wants is to please its master.
Be cautious however about how many treats you dish out. While a treat is necessary in the early stages, you don’t want the dog to obey commands simply because she or he can get a treat. You want obedience on command, with the reward being praise. Only use the treats while training. Don’t give treats in between training sessions, because the dog will get confused.
If you want to compete at dog shows and other competitions, it’s advisable for you and your dog to attend a professional dog training course. You will both learn the relevant behavior requirements and other etiquette rules. There’s plenty of helpful websites about such courses.
Learn more about dog obedience classes in NJ.
