Dog Training Basics

One of the best things you can do is start obedience training with your dog when he or she is young. It’s much quicker and easier to train puppies than adult dogs. Proper training can make life less stressful for you and your dog, and it can help your pet become a well adjusted member of your household.

Start Early

Some people mistakenly put off dog training for too long, saying that they want to wait until their puppy is old enough to benefit from training. Keep in mind that obedience training is all about learning what is and is not acceptable behavior. Your dog is never to young to learn the difference between good and bad behavior. The ideal time to start obedience training is when an animal is three months old. You can start later, but the earlier you start, the easier the training process will be for you and your dog.

Establish Dominance

Proper dog training should always begin with clarifying that the owner occupies the dominant position in the relationship. Many of the conflicts that develop between dog owners and their canine companions develop arise out of confusion regarding just who is the leader of the pack. Dogs with dominant personalities don’t automatically realize that the human is in charge of the household, and instinctively vie for the alpha position in the family.

Your manner should be stern and authoritative when training your dog. Your actions should clearly convey the message that you are in charge. Many people sabotage their own dog training efforts by being too gentle during training activities. By no means should you be abusive or mean to your pet, but it is important to be firm throughout the training process. If you allow your dog to control your behavior during training, instead of the other way around, you are sending the wrong message to your pet.

Use Positive Reinforcement

When your dog exhibits the correct behaviors, it’s important to provide positive reinforcement. Pet your dog, verbally praise the behavior, and/or feed him or her a dog treat. These actions let your dog know that you are pleased with his or her performance.

When your dog doesn’t follow training commands, you shouldn’t punish the animal. Dogs don’t respond well to punishing actions because they don’t understand them. Simply refuse to provide any type of reinforcement until your canine companion does what you have requested. Keep in mind that dogs thrive on attention, and withholding attention when they don’t do what they are supposed to do is one of the best ways to encourage them to exhibit desired behaviors.