Dog Training
Dog training is the method of training a dog to carry out certain actions in response to certain instructions in which the dog is trained to understand. Many who now owns a puppy or dog would eventually want to train them to the desirable behaviors that suit around the house and to other family members. Dogs do not figure out basic obedience on their own, they must be trained.
The most difficult part of training a dog is communicating with the dog in a humane way that he understands. The underlying principle of all communication is simple: reward desired behavior while ignoring or correcting undesired behavior.
The usual basic pet obedience training consists of 6 behaviors:
- Sit
- Down
- Stay
- Recall (”come”, “here” or “in”)
- Close (or loose-leash walking)
- Heel
As puppies, many often like to jump on people. This is often seen as a cute action when they are puppies but this behavior is not encouraged by many families as it can start to become annoying and even dangerous when they are older, larger and heavier. A large dog jumping on people can be dangerous especially to young children and even to some adults and elderly people. The best time to train a puppy from jumping is when the puppy is still small and easy to handle. When the puppy jumps up on you or someone else, gently place the puppy’s feet back on the floor. When the dog remains standing there, be sure to praise it extensively.
Consistency is very important in training a puppy. When teaching a puppy not to jump on people, action must be taken every time it jumps. Another problem that you definitely want to nip in the bud is this one. It is important that the puppy learn to respect the collar and leash now, when he is still small and light enough to handle. Teaching this lesson to a 10 pound puppy will be much easier than teaching the same lesson to a 150 pound dog.
Using a good strong body harness or head collar can be a big help when training a puppy not to pull, or to retrain a dog that has already learned to pull on the leash. When first fitting a harness, it is important to allow the puppy to walk around wearing it, so that he can get used to wearing it. The first thing that your puppy must learn, and the basis of all subsequent training, is teaching your dog to heel. Teaching your dog to walk quietly at your side on a loose lead is the basis of all dog training, and until your puppy has mastered this vital skill he will be unable to move onto more advanced training.
When walking with a puppy on a leash, it is important to always keep slack in the leash. If the puppy begins to pull on the leash, the handler should quickly change directions. The puppy will then find itself lagging behind instead of forging ahead. The least will be loose except for the split second it takes to change directions. It is important for the handler to use a quick tug of the leash, followed by an immediate loosening, when teaching this lesson. When teaching the puppy to walk properly, it is important to never allow the puppy to pull you around, or to forge ahead on the leash. Allowing the puppy to pull you around will teach him exactly the wrong lesson.
Always make sure that when training your dog, use positive reinforces like food treats in which rewarding a dog when he or she has done the right thing will lead them to repeating a trick or desired behavior for a treat. Last but not least have fun with your pet dog.
